Applications of electrospinning and supercritical carbon dioxide foaming techniques in controlled release and bone regeneration

Abstract

BMP-2 protein or plasmid was loaded into Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/Hydroxyapatite fibrous scaffolds using electrospinning in different ways. It was revealed that BMP-2 protein and plasmid encapsulated into fibrous scaffolds retained the integrity in vitro. Animal experimental results indicated that the bioactivity of BMP-2 protein and plasmid was well maintained, which helped improve the healing of segmental defects in vivo. In order to improve the charge properties of PLGA devices, plasmid loaded Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/chitosan composite foams were fabricated by a combination of spray drying and supercritical CO2 foaming techniques. The composite foams exhibited a sustained release of DNA. Moreover, cell culture results proved that the incorporation of chitosan in foams helped enhance cell adhesion strongly and obtain high cell viability. In another study, lysine peptides were employed to modify PLGA foams. The adsorption capacity and release behavior of DNA were found to be highly dependent on the charge properties of foam surfaces.