Design of biomimetic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering and investigation of inductive effect on osteocytes

One of the most important components in tissue engineering studies is the biomaterial used as tissue scaffold. Biopolymeric scaffolds present cells with a three-dimensional (3D) artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro. In this way, they have a primary effect on the formation of tissue organoid of anatomical size with high efficiency. In this thesis, it was aimed to develop biomimetic collagen-hyaluronic acid-chondroitin sulfate-hydroxyapatite (KOL/HYA/KS-HA) composite scaffolds and to investigate their usability for bone tissue engineering. Accordingly, the biocompatibility properties of the produced polymer-ceramic composite scaffolds were investigated in accordance with the ISO-EN-10993 standard, and the suitability of their use as a biomaterial in tissue engineering was demonstrated. Within the scope of the thesis, after 3D biomimetic polymer scaffolds were prepared using two different methods, they were treated with SBF solution and their surfaces were coated with HA. Instead of using chemical crosslinkers between polymer chains, the efficiency of crosslinking under mechanical stress was investigated to increase the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained composite scaffolds were examined using appropriate analysis methods. In the determination of tissue forming capacity, osteoblast cells (sOB) isolated from rat calvaria and tibia bones were tested using scaffolds determined to have suitable properties. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by MTT analysis and osteogenic phenotype was evaluated using alkaline phosphatase activity and histochemical staining. As a result of characterization analysis, it was determined that polymer-ceramic composites prepared from polymer blends in solution are more suitable for bone tissue engineering. In studies using sOB, it was determined that scaffolds which have a higher amount of collagen in their structure induced bone tissue formation much more.