此研究我們使用具有生物相容性的矽酸鈣鎂粉末(magnesium-calcium silicate,Mg-CS)，加上聚已內酯(poly-ε-caprolactone,PCL)粉末做混合，透過特定雷射的燒結，再製造成可以讓骨組織生長的立體支架(3D scaffold)。以此製作出的立體支架，材料本質就具有高孔洞的特性，支架間彼此又相互形成較大的孔洞(Marcopres)。比起單純只由聚已內酯製作出的支架，我們研究中使用的這種支架更具有高的親水性與降解性，尤其是在混合比例超過20%矽酸鈣鎂所製成的支架，於支架標本經過浸泡一天的人體模擬體液(simulated body fluid)後，可見到明顯緻密的類骨磷灰石(bone-like apatie)沉積。於體外試驗中，將人類間葉幹細胞(human mesenchymal stem cells, hMSCs)加在有不同矽酸鈣鎂比例的支架上之後，觀察支架會有細胞可以黏附與增生的現象，也證實了支架具有生物的相容性，而且隨著支架矽酸鈣鎂的比例愈高，局部黏著斑激?(focal adhesion kinase)的比例也越高。在矽酸鈣鎂超過10%比例的支架中，所釋放出的矽離子，會比單純只有聚已內酯支架的矽離子濃度高，而矽離子可以幫助生成較多的骨細胞數量，也能增加間質幹細胞中能與生骨作用有關的蛋白質。此實驗結果顯示我們所製造的3D Mg-CS/PCL 支架擁有釋放特定離子(Si、Mg)的特性，且支架本身也有會降解的特性，可以促進間質幹細胞中骨質的生成與分化，日後有機會作為骨質再生組織工程的支架使用。
In this study, we manufacture and analyze bioactive magnesium–calcium silicate/poly-εcaprolactone (Mg–CS/PCL) 3D scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Mg–CS powder was incorporated into PCL, and we fabricated the 3D scaffolds using laser sintering technology. These scaffolds had high porosity and interconnected-design macropores and structures. As compared to pure PCL scaffolds without an Mg–CS powder, the hydrophilic properties and degradation rate are also improved. For scaffolds with more than 20% Mg–CS content, the specimens become completely covered by a dense bone-like apatite layer after soaking in simulated body fluid for 1 day. In vitro analyses were directed using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on all scaffolds that were shown to be biocompatible and supported cell adhesion and proliferation. Increased focal adhesion kinase and promoted cell adhesion behavior were observed after an increase in Mg–CS content. In addition, the results indicate that the Mg–CS quantity in the composite is higher than 10%, and the quantity of cells and osteogenesis-related protein of hMSCs is stimulated by the Si ions released from the Mg–CS/PCL scaffolds when compared to PCL scaffolds. Our results proved that 3D Mg–CS/PCL scaffolds with such a specific ionic release and good degradability possessed the ability to promote osteogenetic differentiation of hMSCs, indicating that they might be promising biomaterials with potential for next-generation bone tissue engineering scaffolds.
