Crystalline cellulose-based bioactive glass constructs: synthesis, characterization and evaluation for bone tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering represents a promising and innovative approach in modern medicine, aiming to preserve, enhance, and restore tissue functionality by integrating cells, materials, and engineering methodologies. Biomaterial composites, such as crystalline cellulose (CC) and bioactive glass (BG) composites, have garnered significant attention in bone regeneration due to their ability to mimic natural bone properties, their biocompatibility, and their bioactivity, which support bone healing. This study aimed to synthesize the CC-BG construct to enhance bone repair strategies. CC was synthesized from paper using acid and probe sonication, resulting in irregular-shaped particles with an average size of 98.4 ± 54.2 µm. BG was synthesized on the CC using a modified base-catalyzed sol–gel method. The CC, CC-BG composites and BG were then characterized using various techniques to confirm the adsorption of BG on CC. The biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, bioactivity, mineralization, and expression analysis were tested with pre-osteoblast cells, MC3T3-E1. Characterization studies confirmed the successful integration of BG onto CC. The CC-BG composites demonstrated biocompatibility, and osteogenic potential, particularly at higher BG concentrations (30%), with improved cellular proliferation (up to 175.7%), mineralization (90%), and osteogenic gene expression of osteoblast differentiation markers i.e., ALP, COLIa1, BGLAP, and RunX2, highest expression with a group having BG concentration (30%) as 88, 73, 35, and 46 folds normalized to control in vitro. This study highlights the successful development of biocompatible, non-toxic CC-BG constructs with enhanced bioactivity, osteoconductivity, and osteogenic potential, offering promising prospects for bone tissue engineering applications.

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