To fabricate a new smart shape memory polymers (SMP) scaffold and to evaluate its physical and biological properties in bone tissue engineering.

The thermo-compression method was used to build the SMP scaffold with proper pore size and porosity. The shape recovery process was detected by stereo-microscope. Electron microscope was used to check its pore size change and the cell attachment on the SMP-scaffold. Live/dead staining was used to test its biocompatibility of the scaffold. Experimental data were analyzed using ANOVA procedure. Differences between groups were compared with SNK- test.

The pore size of SMP scaffold was 100 ~ 300 μm and the porosity was (90.6 ± 5.2) %. Under stereo-microscope, the SMP scaffold had an anticipated shape memory recovery in vitro from a small, compact structure to a voluminous structure; the recovery rate was 91%. SEM result demonstrated that the BMSCs attached and spread very well on the wall surface. The live/dead staining indicated that the living cell rates of SMP scaffold group after being incubated for 1, 7 and 14 days was (81.5 ± 2.2) %, (86.3 ± 1.9) %, and (82.1 ± 1.8) %, while the control group was (82.3 ± 1.7) %, (88.4 ± 1.4) %, and (83.7±2.1) %, respectively. There was no significant difference (F= 0.380, P= 0.555) in cell survival between the control and SMP scaffold groups. The results of cell density were (91 ± 2.3) , (202 ± 4.8) , and (617 ± 5.5) cells/mm² of SMP scaffold group, (83 ± 4.5) , (219 ± 5.3) , and (599 ± 7.2) cells/mm² of the control group in 1, 7 and 14 days, respectively, indicated that cell reproduction rate of both groups were on the rise.

SMP scaffold has excellent shape memory function and biocompatibility, which shows great application potential in the minimally invasive surgery.