Mojtaba Ansari - Department of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran.
Hossein Eslami - Department of Biomedical Engineering, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran

IntroductionThe objective of this research was to prepare and evaluate novel three dimensional scaffolds made of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/ layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite microspheres for potential bone substitute applications.MethodsTherefore, we used microsphere sintering method to produce three dimensional PLGA microspheres/LDH composite scaffolds. The mechanical properties of composite scaffolds were regulated by varying parameters, such as sintering temperature, sintering time, and PLGA/LDH ratio.ResultsThe obtained results ascertained that the PLGA/LDH (4:1) scaffold sintered at 90 ºC for 2 h had the highest mechanical properties and an appropriate pore structure for bone tissue engineering applications. The MTT assay results exhibited that osteoblasts cultured on the composite scaffolds (PLGA/LDH (4:1) scaffold sintered at 90 ºC for 2) displayed cell proliferation increased compared with pure PLGA scaffold and control group. Also, when cell cultured on composite scaffolds, osteoblasts revealed significantly increased ALP activity in respect of those on the pure PLGA scaffold and control group.ConclusionFinally, the obtained results indicated that PLGA/LDH microsphere-sintered scaffold deserve attention utilizing for bone tissue engineering

PLGA; LDH, Microsphere, Scaffold, Sintering