Hybrid functional materials for tissue engineering: Synthesis, in vivo drug release and SERS effect

Abstract

The research presents the designing new hybrid biocompatible materials aimed to bone tissue engineering with enhanced osteoconductivity and functionality. The scaffolds consisted of electrospun polymeric matrix, modified with porous calcium carbonate (vaterite) coatings, were developed and studied. The subcutaneous implantation tests in vivo with white rats demonstrated the high degree of biocompatibility of vaterite-mineralized scaffolds. Moreover, the performed in vivo release of bioactive molecules, immobilized in mineral coating of scaffold, allowed to control the regeneration process in tissues in the implantation area. Also, the decoration of mineralized scaffold with silver nanoparticles exhibited the capability of exploiting these materials as effective substrates with providing surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for precise detection of low concentrations of analyte. In this way, developed scaffolds can be promising materials with enhanced functionality of tissue regeneration, in vivo drug release and detection for designing novel smart devices for biomedicine.