Biofunctionalized nanofibrous scaffolds for enhancing osteoblast cells proliferation

BackgroundBiomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds have shown promising potential in tissue engineering as a means for local drug delivery of osteoinductive small molecules and recapitulating the nanotopograpy of the extracellular matrix (ECM).ObjectiveThe current study aims at construction a cytocompatible, biodegradable, drug loaded nanofibrous scaffold to enhance osteoblast cell proliferation.MethodsHerein, we synthesized berberine (BrB)-incorporated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous scaffold via electrospinning, and various cellular and physicochemical characterization studies were performed using MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts to determine cytocompatibility.ResultsThe results demonstrate that BrB exhibits a hormetic effect with optimal dose at 10 µg indicating an increase in osteoblast cell proliferation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed uniform, randomly aligned, beadless fibers, with greater proportion of fibers in lower nano-range with the addition of BrB. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirmed the elemental composition consistent with PCL and the successful incorporation of BrB. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated preserved crystallinity of the PCL nanofibers, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verified characteristic functional groups of BrB within the PCL matrix, substantiating its molecular integration. The scaffold exhibited controlled degradation and sustained drug release profiles with improved swelling capacity, which is favorable for tissue regeneration. Notably, PCL-BrB demonstrated biocompatibility and enhanced osteoblast cells adhesion and proliferation.ConclusionCollectively, these findings validate the BrB-loaded PCL nanofibrous scaffold as a promising biomaterial platform for guiding osteoblast cells proliferation.