SCOPE Pilot Project: Developing and Evaluating Piezoelectric Scaffold for Alveolar Bone Regeneration

The alveolar bone loss occurs due to periodontal pathology caused by systemic condition or local factors. Gradual bone loss occurs following teeth extraction. Currently, Bone augmentation with autografts, allografts, xenografts is one of the available solutions to overcome this challenge. Autologous bone comes with risk of donor site morbidity. Allografts and xenografts sometimes cause infection and immunological rejection. This research is an attempt to develop a scaffold for bone regeneration using poly(L-lactic acid; PLLA), a biodegradable, biocompatible, electroactive polymer with the piezoelectric coefficient similar to the one in human bone. Scaffolds will be 3D printed with appropriate pore size desired for the bone regeneration. The surface morphology of the scaffold will be analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microarchitectural analysis of the scaffold, the pore size and its distribution will be studied using MicroCT. Crystallinity in the polymer is determined by X-ray diffraction. Elasticity modulus will be calculated by mechanical properties obtained by an electromechanical testing system. The piezoelectric constant will be characterized using piezoresponse force microscopy. Hydrolytic degradation of the scaffold will be studied by percentage weight loss of scaffold Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) obtained from the rat bone marrow will be seeded on scaffolds to study the potential of the PLLA scaffold to promote osteogenesis. Cell coverage area on scaffold will be assessed by SEM analysis. MSC growth, cell morphology, cytoskeletal organization and cell attachment on the scaffolds will be examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy assessment. Cell viability/proliferation determined by DNA quantification using the PicoGreen ds DNA assay. The osteoblastic differentiation will be studied by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity and total protein content. The mineralization of the extracellular matrix will be measured using quantichrom calcium assay.