Antimicrobial and Osteoconductive Bioactive Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering: A CS–HA Based Approach

Abstract

The consequences of traumatic or pathological loss of bone remain rather difficult to treat since conventional grafts are oftentimes deficient in their mechanical strength, biocompatibility, or resistance to infection. In this context, a composite scaffold based on chitosan (CS) and nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) at a 70:30 weight ratio was fabricated by freeze-drying and characterized for bone tissue engineering applications. The scaffold demonstrated an interconnected porous structure with pore sizes between 100 and 150 mm, allowing for cell infiltration and nutrient exchange. Tensile testing gave results of 26.4 MPa, whereas water absorption reached 312% with 40% desorption occurring within 24 hours. The drug-release studies showed a sustained release profile with nearly 72% release within seven days. The cytocompatibility assessment on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells demonstrated an 82.6% viability, indicating good biocompatibility. Furthermore, against E. coli and S. aureus, the scaffold showed significantly improved antibacterial activity compared to chitosan. The combination of all these properties indicates that these CS-HA scaffolds could provide a suitable platform for bone regeneration and infection control.