The Tunable Porous Structure of Gelatin-Bioglass Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications: Physicochemical, Mechanical, and In Vitro Properties

Unidirectional freeze-casting method is used to fabricate gelatin-bioglass nanoparticles (BGNPs) scaffolds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that sol-gel prepared BGNPs are distributed throughout the scaffold with diameters of less than 10 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetric are used to evaluate the physicochemical properties of BGNPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs present an oriented porous structure and a homogeneous distribution of BGNPs in the gelatin matrix. The lamellar-type structure indicates an improvement of mechanical strength and absorption capacity of the scaffolds. Increasing the concentration of BGNPs from 0 to 50 wt% have no noticeable effect on pore orientation, but decreases porosity and pore size distribution. Increase in BGNPs content improves the compressive strength. The absorption and biodegradation rate reduces with augmentation in BGNPs concentration. Bioactivity is evaluated through apatite formation after immersion of the nanocomposites in simulated body fluid and is verified by SEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), an element map analysis, X-ray powder diffractometer, and FTIR spectrum. SEM images and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay confirm the biocompatibility of scaffolds and the supportive behavior of nanocomposites in cellular spreading. The results show that gelatin-(30 wt%)bioglass nanocomposites have incipient physicochemical and biological properties.