Fabrication of pamidronic acid-immobilized TiO2/hydroxyapatite composite nanofiber mats for biomedical applications

Abstract

TiO2/hydroxyapatite (TiO2/HA) composite nanofiber mats were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Subsequently, pamidronic acid (PDA) was immobilized on the surface of the TiO2/HA nanofiber mat to improve osseointegration. X-ray photoelectron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the PDA-immobilized TiO2/HA composite nanofiber mat (TiO2/HA-P). The potential of TiO2/HA-P as a bone scaffold was assessed by examining the cell adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts on the TiO 2/HA-P composite nanofiber mat were slightly higher than those on the TiO2/HA composite nanofiber mat, whereas the viability of osteoclasts on the TiO2/HA-P nanofiber mat was significantly suppressed. These results suggest that the TiO2/HA-P nanofiber mat has the potential for use as a therapeutic bone implant. © 2013 Yong-Suk Shin et al.