Progress in Montmorillonite Functionalized Artificial Bone Scaffolds: Intercalation and Interlocking, Nanoenhancement, and Controlled Drug Release

Montmorillonite (MMT) has attracted widespread attention in the field of bone tissue engineering in recent years because of its interlayer domain structure. The progress of MMT application was reviewed in this article. Concretely, the application of MMT was mainly explained from the structural characteristics, mechanical strengthening mechanism, organic functionalization, and drug loading and release. Firstly, the polar polymer molecular chains are easily induced into the interlayer domain of MMT to form an interlock and achieve the mechanical strengthening of scaffold. Secondly, the “sandwich” sheet structure of MMT can be exfoliated into graphene-like MMT nanosheets, providing a nanostrengthening effect for polymer matrix. In addition, MMT’s interlayer domain provides a favorable environment for the loading and slow release of drugs, and it is an ideal platform for the functionalization of bone scaffolds. More importantly, MMT can be easily modified by cation exchange and chemical reaction to further improve the compatibility of composites: such as strengthening mechanical interlocking and nanostrengthening effects and achieving controllable loading and release of drugs. It is expected to provide a reference for improving the application of bone tissue engineering scaffolds.