3D - pored Ixora Coccinea Linn. extracted nanocellulose-curcumin composites for tissue engineering applications

The present study reports the development of a novel 3D nanoporous scaffold for tissue engineering by integrating curcumin into a plasticized nanocellulose matrix. Nanocellulose was extracted from Ixora coccinea Linn. roots and plasticized with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The scaffold was fabricated via solvent casting into a nanofibrous porous structure resembling the natural extracellular matrix, enhancing cell adhesion, proliferation, and nutrient diffusion. Curcumin, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, was incorporated at varying concentrations to improve scaffold functionality. Despite curcumin's poor solubility and bioavailability, embedding it in the scaffold enabled sustained, localized delivery, overcoming pharmacokinetic limitations while preserving therapeutic potency. Comprehensive characterizations were performed using FE-SEM, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, and tensile strength testing. FE-SEM confirmed a highly interconnected nanoporous network with optimal fiber diameters. The PEG-plasticized scaffold exhibited good mechanical strength and structural integrity, supporting tissue regeneration. In vitro studies with L929 fibroblast cells confirmed excellent cytocompatibility, while in vivo evaluations showed favorable biocompatibility, including angiogenesis and no signs of inflammation, infection, or necrosis. Curcumin-loaded scaffolds demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. In-silico interaction studies between cellulose and curcumin demonstrate that, in most cases, a single curcumin molecule cross-links three cellulose chains via hydrogen bond interactions. These results suggest that nanocellulose-PEG-curcumin is a promising, multifunctional, biodegradable scaffold that offers significant potential for skin, cartilage, and bone tissue engineering by enabling its antimicrobial, and tissue regenerative ability.