Nanofiber scaffold for bone tissue engineering: Mechanism, challenge and future prospect.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Nanofiber scaffolds simulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
• They guide cell migration and arrangement via integrin-mediated mechanical signaling.
• Surface functionalization and scaffold stiffness influence cell fate and osteogenic differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a triple cooperative strategy for enhanced bone defect repair using nanofiber scaffolds.
• To explore the combined effects of physical topology, biochemical signals, and mechanical microenvironment on stem cell behavior.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nanofiber scaffolds with controlled topological structure.
• Surface functionalization to activate osteogenic pathways.
• Tuning scaffold stiffness to regulate cell fate.
• Evaluation of cell migration, spatial arrangement, and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Main Results:

• The ordered fiber network guided directional cell migration and spatial arrangement.
• Surface functionalization synergistically activated osteogenic transcription networks, enhancing differentiation.
• Scaffold stiffness precisely regulated nuclear translocation of mechanosensitive factors, influencing cell fate.
• The combined strategy overcame limitations of traditional scaffolds, offering a dynamic platform for bone repair.

Conclusions:

• The triple cooperative strategy of physical topology, biochemical signals, and mechanical microenvironment in nanofiber scaffolds significantly enhances osteogenic differentiation and bone defect repair.
• This approach provides a dynamic and adjustable platform for regenerative medicine.
• Future research should focus on overcoming clinical transformation bottlenecks, including long-term factor release and in situ vascularization for precise bone regeneration.