Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks Serve as an Interface Layer for Designing Bifunctional Bone Scaffolds with Antibacterial and Osteogenic Performance

Abstract

The integration of hydroxyapatite (HA) with broad-spectrum bactericidal nano-silver within biopolymer-based bone scaffolds not only promotes new bone growth, but also effectively prevents bacterial infections. However, there are problems such as a poor interface compatibility and easy agglomeration. In this project, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) were grown in situ on nano-HA to construct a core–shell structure, and silver was loaded into the ZIF-8 shell through ion exchange. Finally, the core–shell structure (HA@Ag) was composited with polylactic acid (PLLA) to prepare bone scaffolds. In this case, the metal zinc ions of ZIF-8 could form ionic bonds with the phosphate groups of HA by replacing calcium ions, and the imidazole ligands of ZIF-8 could form hydrogen bonds with the carboxyl groups of the PLLA, thus enhancing the interface compatibility between the biopolymers and ceramics. Additionally, the frame structure of MOFs enabled controlling the release of silver ions to achieve a long-term antibacterial performance. The test results showed that the HA@Ag nanoparticles endowed the scaffold with good antibacterial and osteogenic activity. Significantly, the HA@Ag naoaprticle exhibited a good interfacial compatibility with the PLLA matrix and could be relatively evenly dispersed within the matrix. Moreover, the HA@ZIF-8 also effectively enhanced the mechanical strength and degradation rate of the PLLA scaffold.