Fabrication and characterization of Ca-BTC metal-organic framework/polylactic acid/gelatine porous composite as a bone tissue engineering scaffold

Abstract

The main aim of tissue engineering (TE) is replacement or regeneration of organs or tissues that are damaged by injuries or diseases. In this study, a novel porous composite scaffold, Ca-BTC MOF/PLA/Gelatine, was prepared by incorporating a Ca-based metal-organic framework (Ca-BTC MOF) into polylactic acid (PLA) and gelatine mixture. PLA/Gelatine scaffold was also fabricated as a control. The as-obtained materials were studied by various techniques such as FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), and EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) elemental mapping. The EDS elemental mapping and SEM images confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of the Ca-BTC MOF particles into the porous scaffold. Additionally, SEM images confirmed the interconnected porous morphology of the as-prepared scaffold. The obtained scaffold was evaluated in terms of structural and biocompatibility properties, as well as its ability to promote bone development. In vivo studies confirmed that the Ca-BTC MOF/PLA/Gelatine scaffold has superior bone formation capability compared to the PLA/Gelatine group. Additionally, this scaffold exhibited enhanced bone formation compared to the control. These findings suggest that the Ca-BTC MOF/PLA/Gelatine scaffold is a promising material for bone regeneration, with potential applications in orthopedics.