The focal point of this thesis was to fabricate and characterize a nanofibrous scaffold with added functional particulates of monetite, a compound in the calcium phosphate family, using the electrospinning process. The material was developed to be tested as a potential bone tissue engineering scaffold. PLA and monetite were chosen for the development of the bionanocomposite because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The calcium present in the monetite is useful to enrich the environment for compatibility with bone extracellular matrix (ECM). Parameters influencing the electrospinning process were varied to find the optimum conditions for producing uniform fibers.
Using characterization methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) the fiber morphology, chemical composition, and dispersion of monetite particles in the fibers were determined. Higher ratios of monetite to PLA in the fibers significantly affected the electrospinning process and the morphology of the fibers; lower monetite contentproduced nanofibers with a reduction in beads. Particles of monetite were randomly dispersed in the fiber matrix.
The fibers that showed optimal characteristics for tissue culture were then tested for biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. A series of tests were undertaken including soaking in Tas-Simulated Body Fluid (t-SBF) [1] to form apatite coating, degradation in PBS and complete media, and cell culture testing. Positive results were obtained during all biocompatibility testing including apatite coating, pore formation during degradation, and cell infiltration into the fibrous scaffold material. The design and initial biological studies on this bone tissue engineering scaffold proved to have positive results.