Hybrid Tricalcium Phosphate/Hydrogel Constructs Functionalized with an Antitumor Drug for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Hybrid materials designed for the regeneration of bone defects and consisting of a resorbable ceramic base (tricalcium phosphate, TCP) coated with a layer of hydrophilic biodegradable polymer have been developed. Biocompatibility of the ceramics was evaluated through in vitro tests using cultures of human skin fibroblasts. To increase the therapeutic potential, the created model structures were saturated with the antitumor drug doxorubicin within the composition of the coating of UV-polymerizable hydrogel based on polyacrylamide/polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PAA/PEGDA). The kinetics of drug release was studied by spectrophotometry using saline. The studied hybrid constructs had low cytotoxicity. Saturation of the structures with the antitumor drug resulted in its prolonged release. The results demonstrate the technological feasibility of creating osteoconductive implants based on calcium phosphates suitable for local delivery of antitumor drugs.