Stimuli responsive and biomineralized scaffold: An implant for bone-tissue engineering

Abstract

Development of bioactive and stimuli responsive materials in the form of implant/scaffold is the urgent need that mimics the natural bone structure and function. To achieve such novel smart biomaterials "PVP-CMC-CaCO3" scaffold was prepared using PVP-CMC hydrogel as a matrix, following the biomimetic mineralization process i.e. simple liquid diffusion technique. The main concern of this study is to establish its stimuli responsive nature as it is one of the important factor of biomaterials. The swelling-deswelling capacity of "PVP-CMC-CaCO3" scaffold was carried out at 37°C using physiological solution. The morphological changes which occurred in the biomineralized scaffold during swellingdeswelling-reswelling and deswelling steps were confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. The obtained results concerning shape-size and thickness indicated that PVP-CMC-CaCO3, a hydrogel based scaffold is a true stimuli responsive biomaterial.