Unveiling Bone and Dental Regeneration Potential of Quince Seed Mucilage‐Nanohydroxyapatite Scaffolds in Rabbit Mandibles

Donor-side morbidity of autografting for maxillofacial region defect regeneration has directed attention to bioengineered scaffolds. Composite scaffolds that mimic the bone extracellular matrix (ECM) are the potential candidates for defect reconstruction. Herein, a plant-based regenerative hydrogel, quince seed mucilage (QSM), was enriched with the nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) particles to construct composite scaffolds (QSM/nHAp). The emerging scaffold is able to induce cellular spheroid formation and regenerate the critical-sized bilateral mandibular defects in rabbits. The macroscopic observations, histochemical (HC) and immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings, μ-computer tomography (CT) scanning, quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed that all QSM/nHAp scaffolds were swelled with host blood, filled the whole cavity, and sustained cellular infiltration without adverse reactions. The gradual biodegradation profile of the scaffolds improved bone regeneration by releasing nHAp particles from the scaffold. Strikingly, co-development of dental and bone regeneration was observed for all QSM/nHAp groups beginning after day 21. Moreover, QSM/nHAp scaffolds induced expression (> 2-fold) of bone and dental-related gene and protein expressions at the grafted area and sustained a proper platform for maxillofacial remodeling. Therefore, we strongly believe that such biocompatible plant-based constructs, compared with conventional medical devices used in maxillofacial surgery, could support and induce simultaneous bone and dental regeneration due to the intrinsic dynamics of the material.