Coating 3D-Printed Bioceramics with Histatin Promotes Adhesion and Osteogenesis of Stem Cells

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering utilizes mesenchymal stem cells and 3D printing for repairing large bone defects.
• Scaffold interactions, including cell attachment, spreading, osteogenic differentiation, and in vivo survival, are critical for success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of human salivary histatin-1 (Hst1) on human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) interacting with 3D-printed β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds.
• To evaluate Hst1's potential to enhance stem cell performance for bone tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Coating 3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds with Hst1.
• Assessing hASC adhesion using fluorescent imaging on β-TCP and glass.
• Evaluating hASC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation on scaffolds.
• Analyzing in vivo survival of hASCs.
• Investigating the involvement of ERK, p38, and JNK signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• Hst1 significantly enhanced hASC adhesion to both β-TCP scaffolds and bioinert glass.
• Hst1 treatment led to significantly higher hASC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation on 3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds.
• Coating with Hst1 significantly promoted hASC survival in vivo.
• ERK and p38 signaling pathways, but not JNK, were implicated in Hst1-mediated adhesion enhancement.

Conclusions:

• Hst1 effectively promotes hASC adhesion, spreading, osteogenic differentiation, and in vivo survival on 3D-printed β-TCP scaffolds.
• Hst1 represents a promising biomolecular strategy for improving stem cell/3D printing-based bone tissue engineering constructs.