3.8. Better cellular behaviour in scaffolds with smaller mean
pore size
The AB and LDH assay results were utilized to determine the effects of
scaffold pore size on cellular behaviour. The data showed that cellular
activity decreases when the mean pore size increases on PLL-coated
scaffolds (Fig. 7a). The lowest AB reduction percentages were measured
for PLL+LAM coated SA and GOSA0.5 scaffolds with the largest mean pore
sizes as 36.12% and 38.33%, respectively. Accordingly, the relatively
lowest cytotoxicity was observed for RGOSA0.5 (116.0 µm) and RGOSA1
(114.7 µm) scaffolds with smaller mean pore sizes compared to SA and
other composite scaffolds (Fig. 7b). Overall, a negative correlation
(Spearman R\(=-0.83\)) was observed between mean pore size of
scaffolds and cellular activity (obtained by AB assay). Conversely, a
weak positive correlation (Spearman R\(=0.06\)) was seen between the
mean pore size of scaffolds and cytotoxicity (obtained by LDH assay).
These findings indicate that increasing mean pore size decreases DPSCs
metabolic activity with no corresponding relationship to cytotoxicity.