Osteogenic Differentiation Properties of BLGFs/ODEX Hydrogel Doped With Collagen Derived From Chambo tilapia Fish Skin.

Abstract

Background: Bone defects caused by trauma, congenital disorders and degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis remain a major clinical challenge, especially in developing regions. Although bone grafting is the current gold standard for treating bone defects, it faces limitations, including donor site morbidity, limited availability and immune rejection. This study developed and evaluated a novel hybrid biomaterial composed of bovine β-lactoglobulin fibrils (BLGFs), oxidized dextran (ODEX) and collagen (COL) extracted from Chambo tilapia fish skin for bone tissue engineering applications.

Methods: BLGFs were synthesized from whey protein, while ODEX was produced by oxidizing dextran. Three biomaterials-COL, BLGFs/ODEX and BLGFs/ODEX/COL-were synthesized and characterized using Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cytocompatibility and haemocompatibility were assessed through MTT and haemolysis assays using rat red blood cells. Osteogenic potential was evaluated by Alizarin Red staining after culturing rat bone marrow stem cells in osteoinduction media.

Results: The BLGFs/ODEX/COL hydrogel exhibited better porosity, biocompatibility and mechanical stability. SEM and MTT results confirmed robust cell adhesion, spreading, and viability, while haemolysis rates remained below 5%. Enhanced calcium deposition in rBMSCs indicated strong osteogenic differentiation. These results demonstrate that the BLGFs/ODEX/COL hydrogel is a promising, affordable, and biocompatible scaffold for bone tissue regeneration.