Biomimetic TiO 2 -chitosan/sodium alginate blended nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

The study is aimed to synthesize potent metal oxide based biomimetic nanocomposites to overcome the risk associated with artificial bone tissue engineering. High purity TiO ₂ nanoparticles are synthesized via hydrothermal route. A biomimetic nanocomposite scaffolds containing chitosan-sodium alginate (4: 4) blended with three different (0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt%) concentrations of hydrothermally synthesized TiO ₂ nanoparticles are obtained by solvent casting technique. The physico-chemical and thermal degradation properties of as-synthesized TiO ₂ nanoparticles and their nanocomposite scaffolds are analyzed. In-vitro cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of the prepared TiO ₂ nanoparticles and nanocomposites are tested against human bladder tumor (UC6) and osteosarcoma (MG-63) cell lines. Antibacterial property is tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These studies reveal that TiO ₂ nanoparticles and polymeric nanocomposites contain good physico-chemical and mechanical properties for enhanced in-vitro biocompatibility suitable for biomedical applications. Biomimetically prepared chitosan-sodium alginate scaffold containing TiO ₂ nanoparticles (1 wt%) is found to exhibit superior biocompatibility for bone tissue engineering applications.
(Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)