Powder injection molded ceramic scaffolds: The role of pores size and surface functionalization on the cytocompatibility

Abstract

The alumina-based scaffolds prepared by powder injection molding can be preferentially used for preparation of bone grafts. Here, the final architecture of alumina scaffolds was efficiently controlled by powder space holder size and volume ratio. The alumina is not intrinsically cell-instructive material and thus the coating with electrically-conducting polyaniline or polyaniline/biopolymer films prepared in a colloidal dispersion mode was used to provide this advanced property. The component of the extracellular matrix, sodium hyaluronate, or natural biopolymers (sodium alginate or chitosan) were employed, and, subsequently, the cytocompatibility of the native and functionalized alumina scaffolds were determined. Both the absence of cytotoxicity and the cytocompatibility that were revealed demonstrate the application potential of these composites. The scaffolds with pore size greater than 250 µm were more cytocompatibility than those with pores size between 125 and 250 µm. The cytocompatibility was confirmed under in vivo-mimicking dynamic cultivation conditions which further improve the cell distribution and growth. © 2022 The Authors