Synergized bioperformance bone scaffolds of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silk fibroin particles with TiO2 as the base bone-mimicking materials for oral and maxillofacial surgery

Scaffolds of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/silk fibroin particles (SP) with TiO2particles were prepared as the bone-mimicking materials. PVA solutions were mixed with SP in the ratio 2:1 (w/w), loaded with TiO2particles at 0, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2% (w/w) before freeze-thawing for 10 cycles and then freeze-dried. Molecular organization and morphology were characterized and observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Tests included contact angle, swelling, mechanical behaviors, and cell viability and proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium deposition, and protein synthesis that showed molecular interactions of the PVA, SP, and TiO2. Scaffolds with TiO2had higher Young’s modulus, stress at maximum load, and contact angle, but had lower swelling, smaller pore size, lower porosity, and greater homogenous size distribution than without TiO2. TiO2at 1.6% (w/w) had the most homogeneous pore distribution with interconnected porosity supporting cell viability and proliferation, ALP activity, calcium deposition, and protein synthesis as well as synergized bioperformance.Graphical abstract