Calcium titanate micro-sheets scaffold for improved cell viability and osteogenesis

Calcium ion (Ca2+) has received great attention in recent years in the field of bone implant materials because of its vital role in osteogenesis. A micro-sheet structured calcium titanate (CaTiO3) scaffold is designed and fabricated through a two-step hydrothermal method and ions exchange method. The success of this synthesis relies on the ions exchange process to facilitate the conversion of Na0.8H1.2Ti3O7 to H2Ti3O7. The CaTiO3 scaffold with uniform surface morphology and interconnected space can be obtained after a second hydrothermal reaction between H2Ti3O7 and Ca(OH)2 at 180 °C for 4 h. SEM images, MTT and ALP assays evidence that the obtained material shows a Ca-dose-dependent enhancement for the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Fluorescence images indicated that MS/Ca180 with the highest Ca content greatly promote cell's migration behavior. In addition, the sufficient Ca content in the CaTiO3 scaffold can provide a Ca source for new bone formation, which accelerates the osteogenesis in vivo. This novel CaTiO3 scaffold holds great promise to promote the defective bone repair by offering a morphologically and compositionally appropriate microenvironment.