Electrospun nanofibers containing chitosan-stabilized bovine serum albumin nanoparticles for bone regeneration

Bone tissue engineering is becoming a key approach in bone repair and regeneration. In the present study, we fabricated a nanofiber scaffold containing chitosan-stabilized bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles for the delivery of abaloparatide and aspirin (ASA). The chitosan-stabilized BSA nanoparticles acted as a release barrier for the encapsulated abaloparatide. Polymeric nanofibers were produced by electrospinning from a mixture of abaloparatide-loaded nanoparticles, ASA, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA). The nanoparticle and nanofiber scaffolds were characterized in terms of their morphology, construction, surface hydrophilicity, degradation, and drug release efficiency. In vitro osteogenesis as well as in vitro cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation were determined to assess their osteoinductive activity. The results showed that the drugs were successfully encapsulated in the scaffolds. Most of the ASA was released within seven days, whereas abaloparatide was released for more than 30 days. The dual-drug-loaded nanofiber scaffolds enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts. These findings indicate that electrospun nanofibers containing chitosan-stabilized BSA nanoparticles may be useful in bone tissue engineering.