Bioactive and Antibacterial Gallic Acid Incorporated 3D-Printed Hydroxyapatite/Gelatin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering requires scaffolds with bioactive and antibacterial properties.
• Developing multifunctional materials is crucial for effective bone regeneration.
• Gallic acid (GA) offers potential bioactive and antimicrobial benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop 3D-printed gallic acid (GA)-incorporated nano-hydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (GA/HAp/CMC/GEL) scaffolds.
• To evaluate the bioactive, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of these scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
• To investigate the effect of GA incorporation on scaffold performance.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel formulation and rheological characterization.
• 3D printing and chemical cross-linking (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride).
• Scaffold characterization: pore architecture, mechanical testing, apatite formation (simulated body fluid), X-ray diffraction, cell culture (MC3T3-E1), and antibacterial assays (E. coli, S. aureus).

Main Results:

• Scaffolds exhibited shear-thinning behavior and interconnected pores.
• GA incorporation enhanced ultimate compressive strength and ductility.
• Scaffolds demonstrated apatite-forming ability and cytocompatibility.
• GA-loaded scaffolds showed significant reduction in E. coli (62.0%) and S. aureus (78.1%) viability.
• Reduced MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast mineralization observed with GA incorporation, requiring further study.

Conclusions:

• GA/HAp/CMC/GEL scaffolds are promising multifunctional materials for bone tissue engineering.
• The scaffolds possess tunable mechanics, bioactivity, and concentration-dependent antibacterial properties.
• Further investigation is needed to fully understand the effect of GA on osteogenic differentiation.