Corrigendum to “Biomimetic characterization reveals enhancement of hydroxyapatite formation by fluid flow in gellan gum and bioactive glass composite scaffolds” [Polym. Test. 76 (2019) 464–472]

This study presents production and biomimetic characterization of macroporous composite scaffolds based on gellan gum and nanoparticulate bioactive glass (GG-BAG) under conditions relevant for bone tissue engineering. Formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) within the scaffolds was investigated in the simulated body fluid (SBF) during 14 days in two biomimetic bioreactors: perfusion bioreactor (1.1 ml/min SBF flowrate) and a bioreactor with coupled dynamic compression and SBF perfusion (5% strain, 0.68 Hz, 1 h on/1 h off, 1.1 ml/min SBF flowrate). HAp formation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The superficial SBF velocity of 100 μm/s in perfusion bioreactors induced the formation of abundant cauliflower-like HAp crystals throughout the scaffold interior and flake-like crystals on external surfaces resulting in improved mechanical properties as compared to the initial scaffolds. The obtained results indicate potentials of macroporous GG-BAG scaffolds in conjunction with perfusion bioreactors for bone tissue engineering demonstrating high bioactivity suited for cultures of osteogenic cells.