Supermagnetic α-cellulosic nano-scaffolds for human adipose-derived stem cells osteoconduction enhancement

Abstract

This study fabricated a nano-biomaterial of supermagnetized alpha-cellulose (alpha CS@Fe3O4) for enhanced osteoconduction of hADSCs (human adipose-derived stem cells). First, the reduction precipitation method was successfully employed to synthesize alpha CS@Fe3O4. The synthesized material alpha CS@Fe3O4 was structurally and morphologically characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, and XPS analyses. The characterizations confirmed a nanostructural modification of alpha CS using Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Next, the fabricated material alpha CS@Fe3O4 was assessed for biocompatibility. The obtained data confirmed the biocompatible nature of the alpha CS@Fe3O4. Then, the alpha CS@Fe3O4 was applied for the osteoconductive differentiation of the hADSCs. The hADSCs osteoconduction was enhanced significantly (11.325 fold increase) in the presence of the alpha CS@Fe3O4 compared to the control hADSCs. The Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining microscopic images corroborated the osteoconduction enhancement. Furthermore, the relative gene expression of the important osteogenic markers ALP, OCN, and RUNX2 was analyzed. The expression levels were significantly enhanced in the presence of the target material alpha CS@Fe3O4. Finally, the immunofluorescent staining of ALP, OCN, and RUNX2 corroborated the enhanced osteoconduction. Thus, in conclusion, alpha CS@Fe3O4 is a low-cost, economical, biocompatible nano-biomaterial with significant osteoconduction enhancement potential that can be applied in bone defect treatments in the future.