THE EFFECT OF BMP-4 LOADED IN 3D COLLAGEN-HYALURONIC ACID SCAFFOLDS ON BIOCOMPATIBILITY ASSESSED WITH MG 63 OSTEOBLAST-LIKE CELLS

Numerous studies recommend collagen to be employed in constructing scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to test whether addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) and of human bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) to collagen scaffolds improves its physical-chemical and morphological properties and biocompatibility with human MG 63 osteoblast-like cells. Type I fibrillar collagen, HA and BMP-4 were used to prepare 3D porous scaffolds by freeze-drying method. The structure of these natural polymers was stabilized employing 0.25% glutaraldehyde, a method that warrants that all the scaffolds components keep their structural integrity and biological properties. The physical-chemical properties were assessed using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG/DTG); the morphological properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and water uptake. The biological properties were determined (in vitro) by collagenase degradation and by assessment of the biocompatibility with MG 63 osteoblast-like cells. The results demonstrated that the collagen scaffolds with HA and BMP-4 had good physical-chemical and morphological properties, promoted adhesion, maintained viability and sustained the migration of osteoblast-like cells into scaffolds.