Combinatorial effects of coral addition and plasma treatment on the properties of chitosan/polyethylene oxide nanofibers intended for bone tissue engineering.

Given the complex calcified nature of the fibrous bone tissue, a combinatorial approach merging specific topographical/biochemical cues was adopted to design bone tissue-engineered scaffolds. Coral having a Ca-enriched structure was added to electrospun chitosan (CS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers that were subjected to plasma surface modifications using a medium pressure Ar, air or N2 dielectric barrier discharge. Plasma incorporated oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functionalities onto the nanofibers surface thus enhancing their wettability. Plasma treatment enhanced the performance of osteoblasts and the interplay between plasma treatment and coral was shown to boost initial cell adhesion. The fibers capacity to trigger calcium phosphate growth was predicted via immersion in simulated body fluid. Globular carbonate apatite nanocrystals were deposited on plasma-treated CS/PEO NFs while thicker layers of flake-like nanocrystals were covering plasma-treated Coral/CS/PEO fibers without blocking the interfibrous pores. Overall, the exclusive multifaceted plasma-treated Coral/CS/PEO nanofibers are believed to revolutionize the bone tissue engineering field.