Selenium Nanoparticle Functionalized Injectable Chitosan/Collagen Hydrogels as Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Enhance Stem Cell Osteoblastic Differentiation for Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Stem cells are an essential consideration in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, understanding how nanoengineered biomaterials and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) interact is crucial for their role in bone regeneration. Utilising structural, chemical stability of Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and biological properties of natural polymers, Se-NPs functionalized, injectable, thermoresponsive nanoengineered hydrogels with interconnected molecular structure were prepared to identify their role in different types of meschymal stem cells. This work shows a complete characterization of the structural and biological properties. Results showed that hydrogels go from sol to gel transition with the help of β-glycerophosphate; functionalization with Se-NPs significantly enhanced the biological response as it as it stabilized the polymeric structure by forming Se-O covalent bonds. Further results suggest that Se-NPs enhance the differentiation of MSCs toward osteogenic lineage in 2D as well as in 3D. We demonstrated for the first time the promoting effects of Se-NPs functionalized hydrogels on the differentiation of osteoporotic bone-derived MSCs. We have also focused on specific cell surface marker expression (CD105, CD90, CD73, CD45, CD34) based on exposure to Se-NP functionalized hydrogel in healthy rats BMSC. Therefore, this study provides essential evidence for pre-clinical/clinical applications and for developing nano-engineered biocompatible hydrogels for bone regeneration in osteoporosis.