Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
2
Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
3
Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Research Centre, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
4
Sexual Health and Fertility Research Centre, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Rosuvastatin (RSV) is a hydrophilic, effective statin with a long half-life that stimulates bone regeneration.
The present study aims to develop a new scaffold and controlled release system for RSV with favourable properties for
bone tissue engineering (BTE).
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, high porous polycaprolactone (PCL)-gelatin scaffolds that contained
different concentrations of RSV (0 mg/10 ml, 0.1 mg/10 ml, 0.5 mg/10 ml, 2.5 mg/10 ml, 12.5 mg/10 ml, and 62.5 mg/10
ml) were fabricated by the thermally-induced phase separation (TIPS) method. Mechanical and biological properties of
the scaffolds were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM),
compressive strength, porosity, MTT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, water contact angle, degradation rate, pH
alteration, blood clotting index (BCI), and hemocompatibility.
Results: SEM analysis confirmed that the porous structure of the scaffolds contained interconnected pores. FTIR
results showed that the RSV structure was maintained during the scaffold's fabrication. RSV (up to 62.5 mg/10 ml)
increased compressive strength (16.342 ± 1.79 MPa), wettability (70.2), and degradation rate of the scaffolds. Scaffolds
that contained 2.5 mg/10 ml RSV had the best effect on the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUC-MSCs)
survival, hemocompatibility, and BCI. As a sustained release system, only 31.68 ± 0.1% of RSV was released from
the PCL-Gelatin-2.5 mg/10 ml RSV scaffold over 30 days. In addition, the results of ALP activity showed that RSV
increased the osteogenic differentiation potential of the scaffolds.
Conclusion: PCL-Gelatin-2.5 mg/10 ml RSV scaffolds have favorable mechanical, physical, and osteogenic properties
for bone tissue and provide a favorable release system for RSV. They can mentioned as a a promising strategy for bone
regeneration that should be further assessed in animals and clinical studies.
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