Nanoceramics-reinforced chitosan scaffolds in bone tissue engineering

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a substantial rise in the use of nanomaterials in tissue engineering applications. Nanostructured scaffolds with cells provide a more structurally supportive environment like natural bone microarchitecture and govern cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration, resulting in the development of functional tissues. Chitosan is a promising and suitable biomaterial due to its remarkable qualities, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and osteogenic potential. However, due to its poor mechanical strength, chitosan cannot be employed for load-bearing applications; thus, the combinatorial approach of chitosan and other biomaterials can be employed to overcome this limitation. Various bioceramics, such as bioinert (titanium, alumina, and zirconia), bioactive (bioglass and hydroxyapatite), and bioresorbable (tricalcium phosphate) materials, are used in bone tissue engineering. Fabricating these materials at nanoscale dimensions increases their surface area, thereby enhancing their cell adhesion. The review article aims to present a comprehensive discussion on the bioinert, bioresorbable, and bioactive nanoceramics-reinforced chitosan scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. This review article also highlights the in vitro and in vivo studies of existing and novel nanoceramics-reinforced chitosan scaffolds used in critical-bone defects and their advantages and challenges in bone defect regeneration.