Aqueous Cissus quadrangularis Stem Extract Integrated Biodegradable Tissue Engineering Scaffold Augments Early Biomimetic and Biomineralization In Vitro

Abstract

Biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds with tunable degradation, high biocompatibility, adequate mechanical strength and intrinsic biomineralization potential instigating biomimetic interactions with osteogenic cells have been well-received for effective bone-defect repair. This study demonstrates the early biomimetic as well as biomineralization of aqueous stem extract (WE) of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) integrated natural scaffold composed of chitosan and collagen (CC) with a tunable degradation profile. Results demonstrate that the scaffold (CC-WE) synergistically contributes to its biomineralization, water absorption capacity and tunable degradation. The microporous CC-WE with an average pore size of 43.13 ± 13.59 μm attained complete swelling within 1h and maintained equilibrium swelling for 10 days and subsequently underwent controlled degradation (42.3% by day 60) under physiological pH and ambient temperature. Early biomimetic mineralization has been observed by SEM analysis after immersing CC-WE in simulated body fluid under biomimetic conditions for 7 days. In complementary, early biomineralization has been confirmed by Alizarin Red S (ARS) and von Kossa (VK) staining upon interaction with Human Osteosarcoma (HOS) cells for 7 days, viewed as respective coloured adduct formation. The findings, therefore, suggest innate biomineralization proficiency of CC-WE scaffold under a beneficial biological microenvironment to aid faster bone defect healing.