In this research, a scaffold was designed for orbital bone tissue engineering

A scaffold containing bacterial cellulose (BC) with nucleated nano hydroxyapatite (nHA) on its surface was designed for orbital bone tissue engineering. nHA synthesis on BC surface was carried out via biomimetic method so that calcium ions formed electrostatic bonding with negative functional group of BC followed by phosphate bonding and initiating HA nuclei. All samples were characterized by Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM). Biocompatibility of composites has been studied by Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs) cultured on scaffold using MTT assay.

ATR of composite BC/nHA after 3 cycles showed the characteristic peaks of BC and HA with a little shift to higher energy due to formation of bonding between HA and BC. The composite XRD pattern showed the characteristic peaks of low crystalline hydroxyapatite. SEM disclosed that in situ synthesis led to producing more homogenous spherical particles of HA and by passing time, more ordered spherical particles was formed on BC surface. The cell results confirmed that scaffold was biocompatible.

Biomimetic synthesis of nHA can give a good opportunity for better controlling the HA morphology which is very important for cell interaction. The designed biocompatible composite can be a good candidate for orbital bone tissue engineering considering its good results for cytocompatibility. Further investigations with respect to osteoblastic differentiation of the cells and in vivo experimental studies should be conducted.