Novel alginate/hydroxyethyl cellulose/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold for bone regeneration: In vitro cell viability and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Sodium alginate (SA)/hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite scaffolds were explored for enhanced in vitro bone regeneration. The SA/HEC/HA composites were synthesized using the lyophilization technique and further cross-linked in the presence of calcium ions to form composite hydrogel networks. The physicochemical, thermal behavior and morphology properties of the prepared scaffolds were characterized through XRD, DSC/TGA, FTIR and SEM. Furthermore, the mechanical behavior of the under investigated scaffolds was determined using texture analyzer. The in vitro bioactivity in SBF and adsorption of bovine serum albumin as well as cell viability for all the prepared scaffolds were also tested. The results indicated that the higher HA concentration (40 wt%) enhanced the mechanical properties (23.9 MPa), bioactivity and protein adsorption. Cell viability of the tested scaffolds confirmed the non-toxicity of the fabricated systems on the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Proliferation capability was also confirmed for the tested scaffolds after 3 and 7 days, but the higher HA-containing scaffold showed increased cell populations specially after 7 days compared to HA-free scaffolds. This novel composite material could be used in bone tissue engineering as a scaffold material to deliver cells and biologically active molecules.