Abstract

Purpose The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel-derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Methods Polyurethane (PU) foam as the initial frame was submerged into a sol-gel-derived BG solution. The heat treatment process was carried out at 450 degrees C to remove the PU foam and 860 degrees C to consolidate the glass and remove the nitrate groups. The prepared BG scaffolds then were submerged into 10 and 15 wt of PLGA solution. The uncoated BG scaffold was characterized by DTA/TGA, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The PLGA-coated scaffolds were characterized using SEM, and the mean compressive strength of the samples was measured. Results The DTA/TGA and XRD pattern indicated the removal of all nitrate groups at the temperatures above 700 degrees C and also crystallization of BG after 800 degrees C. The mean compressive strength of 10 and 15 PLGA-coated scaffolds were obtained 1.36 +/- 0.39 and 1.95 +/- 0.70 MPa, respectively, while the uncoated samples were crushed before the test. The SEM images exhibited that in the coated samples, the BG struts were covered with a PLGA layer and the coated layer was thicker in 15 PLGA samples. The SEM images also revealed that the PLGA coating maintained the structure of the broken struts and prevented them from coming apart. Conclusion Thus, based on the obtained results, the PLGA coating was successfully toughened the BG scaffold and improved its elasticity. Lay summary The study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of a sol-gel derived bioactive glass (BG) foam scaffold by Poly-lactic co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration. Based on the results of this study, the PLGA coating can improve the elasticity and relieve the brittleness of sol-gel derived BG scaffold by supporting the fractured struts and prevent the scaffold from coming apart during a compressive strength test. Consequently, based on the obtained results a 15 PLGA-coated sol-gel derived BG scaffold can be considered as a potential scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.