A Bioinspired 3D Printed Sodium Alginate/Chitosan Scaffold Loaded with Cissus Quadrangularis Extract for Cancellous Alveolar Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Development of polymer-based scaffolds incorporating phytomolecules is crucial for enhancing the osteogenic properties of polymeric bone substitutes. In this study, novel 3D printed scaffolds composed of sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CH), loaded with Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) seed extract, were successfully fabricated, and their morphology was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Incorporation of CQ extract in SA/CH scaffold improved the hydrophilicity and biodegradation rate of the scaffolds. A sustained release profile of CQ extract was observed across all scaffolds. Anti-oxidant property of the scaffold was enhanced remarkably by the addition of CQ extract in dose dose-dependent manner. Addition of CQ extract in optimal dosage, such as 0.125% and 0.25% (w/v), in SA/CH 3D matrix remarkably improved the cell viability of human osteoblast like Saos-2 cells. However, decreased in cell viability was seen at higher concentration of extract as evidenced in SA/CH/CQ0.5 and SA/CH/CQ1.0 constructs. Cell adhesion study demonstrated that SA/CH/CQ0.25 3D construct exhibited a greater density of attached cells with stretched filaments compared to others. Biomineralization and ALP activity analyses revealed that the SA/CH/CQ0.25 construct, followed by SA/CH/CQ0.125, exhibited the highest osteogenic activity among all tested constructs. As the SA/CH/CQ0.25 scaffold showed superior physico-chemical and osteogenic performances, hence acts as a potential bone substitute for the regeneration of cancellous alveolar bone.