Early biomineralizing chitosan–collagen hybrid scaffold with Cissus quadrangularis extract for regenerative bone tissue engineering

Abstract

This study demonstrates the strategic fabrication of a Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) hexane extract integrated porous chitosan–collagen (CH–CO–HE) biodegradable scaffold that assists early biomineralization (day 7), crosslinked with glyoxal, a biocompatible cross-linker, that enable sufficient mechanical stability. The scaffold has a porous microarchitecture (evidenced from SEM analysis), controlled degradation at physiological pH and ambient temperature (51.6 ± 1.8% weight-loss by day 60) and improved compressive strength (49 ± 5 kPa) after crosslinking with glyoxal. The calcium/phosphate ratio of the scaffold is 2.5 (day 14) upon incubation in simulated body fluid. Excellent cell viability and early biomineralization (day 7) have been affirmed for the scaffolds while serving as the platform for Human Osteosarcoma (HOS) cells by F-actin staining and formation of red as well as black colored nodules by Alizarin Red S (ARS) and von Kossa staining, respectively. The findings, therefore, ascertain the innate early biomineralization proficiency and sufficient mechanical stability complemented with controlled degradation of the CH–CO–HE scaffold; hence, could be proposed as a good candidate for regenerative bone tissue engineering.