Dual-component nanofiber scaffolds of silica and collagen for enhanced mechanical integrity and osteogenic bioactivity

Nanofiber scaffolds have gained significant attention as bone substitutes due to the high surface area and interconnected pore structure closely resembling the extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby supporting cell growth and promoting tissue regeneration. This study specifically focused on developing new electrospun scaffolds using silica and fibrillated collagen (SifCo), a key biopolymer in the natural bone matrix, targeting bone tissue engineering applications. The hybrid scaffolds were fabricated using a dual-nozzle electrospinning device equipped with two syringes, each separately filled with silica and collagen. Our findings demonstrated that the involvement of collagen nanofibers (NFs) within silica NFs significantly modifies silica-based scaffold characteristics, thus enhancing Young’s modulus from 13 ± 1 MPa for silica to 69 ± 25 MPa for SifCo NFs and improving cell proliferation compared to pure silica scaffolds. Besides, these hybrid NFs showed a lower degradation rate (15.24 ± 4.75 %) than their pure collagen NFs (83.44 ± 12.95 %) after 14 days, providing more sustained support for tissue growth. This combination of silica and collagen in the hybrid scaffolds benefited both materials’ strengths while modifying their limitations. This balanced approach can offer an effective strategy for bone tissue replacements, potentially addressing the need for scaffolds that can provide both adequate stability and favorable biological properties.