Mechanical performance of gelatin fiber mesh scaffolds reinforced with nano-hydroxyapatite under bone damage mechanisms

Abstract

Engineered tissues scaffolds should be design to mimic, at least partially, the extracellular matrix (ECM) in native tissues. Our scaffold's design satisfies, important challenges among the implant architecture requirements: (i) a fiber mesh entanglement mimicking physical attributes of natural ECM; (ii) a nanostructure surface roughness and chemical cues to increase the interaction with host tissue; (iii) a hydrolytic and enzymatic biodegradability; (iv) an open interconnected macroporosity to promote highly permeability and (v) a tensile stability under mechanical damage mechanisms. These properties are very important for cell seeding, adhesion, vascularization, new ECM formation and the subsequent tissue regeneration.