Novel HA-PVA/NOCC bilayered scaffold for osteochondral tissue-engineering applications - Fabrication, characterization, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility study

This study aimed to examine the bilayered scaffold containing hydroxyapatite (HA) and N, O-carboxymethylated chitosan (PVA/NOCC) seeded with mesenchymal stem cells in vitro to determine its potential use as a scaffold in tissue engineering. SEM analysis revealed that pores in this scaffold were interconnected with parallel grooves and ridges. EDS indicated that the level of calcium was relatively higher in HA. FTIR confirmed the presence of functional groups corresponding to alkyl halide, alkyne, hydroxyl group, and alkane groups, while XRD results revealed that the phase content of HA and hydrogel comprised organic substance. Significantly higher levels of differentiation markers, namely, alkaline phosphatase and glycosaminoglycans, were detected in the scaffold cultures. Furthermore, histology and blood profile demonstrated biocompatibility of this bilayered scaffold in a rat model. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that bilayered scaffold may be a promising construct for osteochondral defects.