GFOGER-Modified PLGA/HA Electrospun Scaffolds Facilitate BMSCs' Osteogenic Differentiation

PLGA/HA biomaterials have been widely applied in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for decades. In bone regeneration, PLGA/HA has been fabricated into films and porous scaffolds and further functionalized with bioactive peptides to enhance angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation. GFOGER, a collagen-derived motif recognized by integrin α2β1, provides specific adhesion cues that regulate the attachment and osteogenic commitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs). In this study, we fabricated a PLGA/HA electrospun scaffold and functionalized its surface with GFOGER peptide. The scaffold's surface morphology, chemical composition, wettability, and structural properties were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and contact angle analysis. Cytocompatibility was verified by MTT assay, demonstrating the suitability of the scaffold for cell culture. Importantly, BMSCs cultured on PLGA/HA/GFOGER scaffolds exhibited enhanced osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by the upregulation of Runx2, BMP2, and OCN. These findings support the potential of PLGA/HA/GFOGER composite scaffolds as promising biomaterials for bone regeneration applications.