Porous cellulose microspheres coated in one step with a polydopamine suspension of hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering

Abstract Deacetylated porous cellulose acetate microspheres (DPCA) modified with hydroxyapatite (HA) penetrated polydopamine (PDA) coating was prepared by a one-step in-situ method and investigated as the scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. The physical and chemical properties of different scaffolds were analyzed by Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. Test results proved the unique three-dimensional porous structure, homogeneous PDA coating, dispersive HA crystals of the DPCA-PDA-HA microspheres (DPPH). The excellent attachment, adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast on DPPH were manifested by cell adhesion and biocompatibility assessment. In vitro mineralization also shown MC3T3-E1 was capable of differentiating osteogenically. Such satisfactory biomedical performance of DPPH was ascribed to the one-step introducing process contributing to a uniform and enrich growth of HA on the microspheres surface and interior. This study provides a promising cellulose-based scaffold applied in bone regeneration field. Graphical abstract