Enhancing Bone Regeneration with Silybin-Loaded PCL/Gelatin/Nanoclay Nanocomposite Scaffolds: An In Vitro & In Vivo...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering requires advanced scaffolds for effective regeneration.
• Polycaprolactone/Gelatin/Nanoclay (PCL/GNF/NC) composites offer promising properties for bone scaffolds.
• Silybin (Sil) is a natural compound with potential therapeutic benefits for bone healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a 3D porous PCL/GNF/NC scaffold incorporating varying dosages of silybin for bone tissue engineering.
• To assess the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the silybin-loaded scaffolds.
• To investigate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of the scaffolds in promoting bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 3D porous scaffolds using electrospinning and thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS).
• Incorporation of different concentrations of silybin (Sil) into the PCL/GNF/NC matrix.
• Characterization of scaffold properties: porosity, compressive strength, water contact angle, degradation rate, and silybin release profile.
• In vitro evaluation of hemolysis and cell proliferation (cytocompatibility).
• In vivo assessment using a rat calvaria defect model with histological analysis.

Main Results:

• Scaffolds exhibited porosity between 70-90%.
• Silybin-loaded scaffolds showed reduced compressive strength, lower contact angle, and faster degradation rates compared to controls.
• Controlled silybin release was observed, with 61.09% released after 28 days.
• The PCL/GNF/NC/Sil1% scaffold demonstrated superior cell proliferation in vitro and enhanced bone healing in vivo.
• Histological analysis confirmed improved bone regeneration in the PCL/GNF/NC/Sil1% group.

Conclusions:

• The developed silybin-loaded PCL/GNF/NC scaffolds are suitable for bone tissue engineering applications.
• Silybin incorporation positively influences scaffold properties and enhances bone regeneration.
• The PCL/GNF/NC/Sil1% scaffold shows significant potential for treating bone defects.