Creep-resistant dextran-based polyurethane foam as a candidate scaffold for bone tissue engineering: Synthesis, chemico-physical characterization, andin vitroandin vivobiocompatibility

A highly cross-linked composite dextran-based scaffold (named DexFoam) was tailored to overcome specific deficiencies of polymeric and ceramic bone scaffolds and to guarantee a bone-mimicking microenvironment for the proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. The creep resistance for up to 90% compressive stain, the capability to regain the original shape after deformation and the good thermal stability in both physiological and “body limit” conditions make DexFoam a valid alternative to the currently available bone scaffolds. Histopathological evaluation for host reaction and tissue colonization of DexFoam scaffold, implanted subcutaneously in mice, demonstrated its in vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability.