Electrospun PCL scaffold modified with chitosan nanoparticles for enhanced bone regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are crucial for bone regeneration.
• Developing effective scaffolds that promote osteogenic differentiation is essential for bone tissue engineering.
• Controlled release of bioactive molecules can enhance osteogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dual-drug-loaded scaffold for enhanced osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs (hMSCs).
• To investigate the potential of chitosan nanoparticles (CHNs) loaded with ascorbic acid and polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers loaded with dexamethasone (Dex) for bone tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of ascorbic acid-loaded CHNs via electrospraying.
• Fabrication of Dex-loaded PCL fibers using electrospinning.
• Construction of PCL/chitosan bilayer scaffolds through sequential electrospinning and electrospraying.
• Characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
• In vitro evaluation of hMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation.

Main Results:

• SEM and FTIR confirmed successful incorporation of CHNs into the PCL matrix.
• Enhanced proliferation of hMSCs cultured on the PCL/chitosan scaffolds was observed.
• Osteogenic assays demonstrated increased alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral deposition.
• Upregulated expression of bone-specific genes confirmed osteogenic differentiation.

Conclusions:

• The dual-drug-loaded PCL/chitosan scaffold effectively promotes osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.
• This scaffold shows significant potential for applications in bone tissue engineering and regeneration.