Preparation and Assessment of Polyurethane-Polygycerol Itaconate-ZnO Composite as Guided Bone Regeneration Scaffold

Abstract

In this study, porous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering based on polyurethane and poly-glycerol-itaconic acid were fabricated using a salt-leaching method and reinforced with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles at 0, 5, and 10 wt.%. The resulting scaffolds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EDS/MAP), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the successful incorporation of ZnO within the scaffold structure. Microstructural analysis revealed that the average pore sizes of scaffolds without ZnO and with 5 and 10 wt.% ZnO were 132±92, 112±58, and 92±36 µm, respectively. Contact angle measurements indicated high hydrophilicity of the pure scaffold (6.9°) and a gradual increase in hydrophobicity with ZnO addition. Water absorption and degradation tests showed that the scaffold containing 10 wt.% ZnO exhibited the lowest equilibrium water uptake and improved control over degradation rate. Furthermore, antibacterial assays demonstrated that increasing ZnO concentration enhanced both bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties. Biocompatibility and cell adhesion assessments indicated that all scaffolds supported cellular attachment, with the 5 wt.% ZnO scaffold showing the most favorable biological performance, whereas the 10 wt.% ZnO scaffold exhibited significant cytotoxicity. Overall, the results indicate that polyurethane–poly-glycerol-itaconic acid scaffolds reinforced with 5 wt.% ZnO nanoparticles provide an optimal combination of structural integrity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity, making them a promising platform for guided bone regeneration and novel applications in dentistry and orthopedics.