Reengineered graft copolymers as a potential alternative for the bone tissue engineering application by inducing osteogenic markers expression and biocompatibility

Composite scaffolds of nano-hydroxyapatite with demineralized bone matrix were prepared and they were graft copolymerized for better bone regeneration and drug delivery applications. The graft copolymers were characterized for their physiochemical properties using conventional methods like FTIR, TGA, XRD and SEM. The scaffolds were seeded with 3T3 and MG63 cells for studying their biocompatibility and their temporal expression of ALP activity, the rate of calcium deposition and their gene expression of collagen type I (Coll-1), osteopontin (OP), osteonectin (ON), and osteocalcin (OC) were studied. In vivo studies were conducted using sub-cutaneous implantation models in male Wister rats for 6 months. Periodic radiography and post-autopsy histopathology was analysed at 15 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months. The obtained in vitro results clearly confirm that the bone scaffolds prepared in this study are biocompatible, superior osteoinductivity, capable of supporting growth, maturation of MG 63 osteoblast like cells; the gene expression profile revealed that the material is capable of supporting the in vitro growth and maturation of osteoblast-like cells and maturation. The in vivo results stand a testimony to the in vitro results in proving the biocompatibility and osteoinductivity of the materials.