(686f) Tuning the Microarchitecture and Biodegradability of Whey Protein Isolate Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) sol-gel possesses several characteristics making it ideal as a scaffold material for bone tissue regeneration. The material has previously been shown to be inherently biocompatible and mechanically robust. WPI is also extremely cheap and easy to process in an aqueous fabrication, making it an attractive raw material for the application. Since scaffold function is tied to form, the objective of this study is to use scaffold composition and processing variables to tune the both the microarchitecture and the kinetics and mechanism of biodegradation for various types of WPI scaffolds.

The scaffolds in this study are prepared by electrospinning WPI and other components into a non-woven mat of high porosity. The degradation rates are determined in highly acidic, highly basic, and normal body pH conditions, as well as in cell growth medium containing metabolites and under direct cell culture. The scaffold structure is observed by scanning electron microscopy initially and at varying immersion times, and the scaffold weight-loss is compared. Based on the data gathered, the various formulations of WPI scaffolds will be rated for performance and the demonstration of the characteristics desired for bone tissue regeneration.