Influence of a macroporous β-TCP structure on human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro

Abstract

This work aims at studying the links between a porous scaffold in β-TCP and its impact on cell differentiation and proliferation in vitro. β-TCP was synthesized by aqueous precipitation. The shaping methods were chosen for their ability to generate original structures with the potential to positively influence cell behaviour. The impregnation of polymeric structure (PS) yielded an interconnected network of spherical pores, stereolithography (3D) yielded a network of interconnected diamond shaped pores and freeze casting (FC) yielded a network of parallel ellipsoidal channel-like pores. Two different trends emerged from the human mesenchymal stem cell culture: 3D and PS seems to promote surface proliferation whereas the freeze casted samples promoted cell penetration, bulk colonization, expression of key osteoblastic genes (RunX-2, ALP, BMP-2, BGLAP and Collagen) and alkaline phosphatase activity. The architectural features created by freeze casting positively influenced human mesenchymal stem cells behaviour in vitro.

Keywords

• β-tricalcium phosphate
• Macroporous scaffolds
• Human mesenchymal stem cells
• Proliferation
• Differentiation
• In vitro