Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2025
09:35
Distinctive Capillary Action by Micro-channels in Bone-like Templates can Enhance Recruitment of Cells for Restoration of Large Bony Defect
Published on: September 11, 2015
9.8K
Risedronate-loaded aerogel scaffolds for bone regeneration.
Nahla El-Wakil1, Rabab Kamel2, Azza A Mahmoud3
1Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Drug Delivery
|December 7, 2022
Summary
Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and chitosan aerogels show promise for bone regeneration. NFC-chitosan scaffolds exhibit enhanced mechanical strength and controlled drug release, aiding tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Sugarcane bagasse is a sustainable source for nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC).
- Regenerated cellulose (amorphous cellulose; AmC) and cross-linked NFC/AmC offer distinct structural properties.
- 3D aerogel scaffolds are explored for pharmaceutical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize 3D aerogel scaffolds using NFC and NFC/AmC combined with chitosan for drug delivery.
- To evaluate the mechanical properties, drug release kinetics, and bone regenerative potential of these scaffolds.
- To investigate the influence of chitosan concentration on scaffold performance.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of NFC and NFC/AmC aerogels loaded with risedronate and combined with varying chitosan concentrations.
- Assessment of mechanical properties (compressive strength) and drug release profiles.
- Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
- Evaluation of bone regeneration capacity using the MG-63 cell line.
Main Results:
- NFC-chitosan aerogels demonstrated superior mechanical properties and retarded drug release compared to other formulations.
- The SC-T3 scaffold (highest chitosan concentration) showed the highest compressive strength (415 ± 41.80 kPa) and longest mean release time (2.61 ± 0.23 h).
- SEM confirmed a uniform, porous, and interconnected microstructure in SC-T3.
- Both medicated and unmedicated scaffolds promoted bone regeneration, with medicated scaffolds showing a higher effect. NFC-only scaffolds exhibited a lower regenerative effect than SC-T3.
Conclusions:
- NFC-chitosan aerogel scaffolds offer enhanced mechanical stability and controlled release for drug delivery applications.
- These biomaterials derived from agro-waste show significant potential for bone tissue engineering.
- Optimizing chitosan concentration is crucial for tailoring scaffold properties for specific biomedical applications.
