Uncoated scaffolds

Figure 2.6 Scanning electron micrographs of (a, c) an uncoated PCL/PLGA scaffold and (b, d) a fibrin/HA-coated PCL/PLGA scaffold. Additionally, Goldner s trichrome staining of histological sections of ectopic implants after 8 weeks for (e) ASC on uncoated scaffolds and (f) ASC on BMP-2-loaded and fibrin/ HA-coated scaffolds. Scale bars (a, b) 1 mm, and (c-f) 100 pm. Reproduced with permission from S-W. Kang, J-S. Kim, K-S. Park, B-H. Cha, J-H. Shim, J.Y. Kim, D-W. Cho, J-W. Rhie and S-H. Lee, Bone, 2011, 48, 300. 2011, Elsevier [110]...

The use of this class of materials is based on the premise that a more natural hydroxyapatite (HA-like) could act as a scaffold for enhanced bone response — osseointegration — and thereby minimize the long-term healing periods currently required for uncoated metal implants. 

Zawadzak et al. have considered the development of new tissue engineering scaffolds based on highly porous and interconnected PU foams electrophoretically coated with carbon nanotubes (Zawadzak et al., 2009). These authors observed that the presence of a uniform CNT coating on the surface of PU foams accelerated the formation of calcium phosphate, an indication of the material effectiveness to form strong bonds to bone tissue, when compared to the uncoated foams, which was related to favored calcium phosphate crystal nucleation and growth induced... 

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