ABSTRACT
Testosterone (T) has been suggested as a promising agent in the bone osteointegration when incorporated in a bioceramic/polymer combination for the local application. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of a testosterone composite of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) as a strategy for enhancing its osteogenic effect and to evaluate tissue response to the composite implantation. PLGA/PCL/BCP/T and PLGA/PCL/BCP composites were prepared and characterized using thermal analysis. Composite morphology and surface characteristics were assessed by SEM and EDS. The evaluations of in vitro effects of testosterone composite on osteoblasts viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen production, osteocalcin concentration, quantification of mineralization, and nitric oxide concentration, after 7, 14, and 21 days. Testosterone was successfully incorporated and composites showed a homogeneously distributed porous structure. The PLGA/PCL/BCP/T composite had a stimulatory effect on osteoblastic activity on the parameters evaluated, except to nitric oxide production. After 60 days, the PLGA/PCL/BCP/T composite showed no chronic inflammatory infiltrate, whereas the PLGA/PCL/BCP composite showed mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate. Angiogenesis, cellular adsorption, and fibrous deposit were observed on the surfaces of implanted composites. The composites in combination with testosterone can be exploited to investigate the use of this scaffold for bone integration.
Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials , Osteogenesis/drug effects , Testosterone/pharmacology , Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry , Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism , Animals , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/pharmacology , Biomineralization/drug effects , Cell Survival , Cells, Cultured , Collagen/metabolism , Hydroxyapatites/chemistry , Male , Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Osteoblasts/cytology , Osteocalcin/metabolism , Polyesters/chemistry , Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer/chemistry , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
In the current study, we characterized the polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) composites coated with testosterone propionate (T) using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Osteoblastic cells were seeded with PCL/BCP, PCL/BCP/T, PLGA/PCL/BCP and PLGA/PCL/BCP/T scaffolds, and cell viability, proliferation, differentiation and adhesion were analyzed. The results of physic-chemical experiments showed no displacements or suppression of bands in the FTIR spectra of scaffolds. The XRD patterns of the scaffolds showed an amorphous profile. The osteoblastic cells viability and proliferation increased in the presence of composites with testosterone over 72 h, and were significantly greater when PLGA/PCL/BCP/T scaffold was tested against PCL/BCP/T. Furthermore alkaline phosphatase production was significantly greater in the same group. In conclusion, the PLGA/PCL/BCP scaffold with testosterone could be a promising option for bone tissue applications due to its biocompatibility and its stimulatory effect on cell proliferation.
