Nanoparticle-reinforced polymer-based scaffolding matrices as artificial bone-implant materials are potential suitors for bone regenerative medicine as they simulate the native bone. In the present work, a series of bioinspired, osteoconductive tricomposite scaffolds made up of nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) embedded xanthan gum−chitosan (XAN−CHI) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) are explored for their bone-regeneration potential. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed complex formation between XAN and CHI and showed strong interactions between the NHA and PEC matrix. The X-ray diffraction studies indicated regulation of the nanocomposite (NC) scaffold crystallinity by the physical cues of the PEC matrix. Further results exhibited that the XAN−CHI/NHA5 scaffold, with a 50/50 (polymer/NHA) ratio, has optimized porous structure, appropriate compressive properties, and sufficient swelling ability with slower degradation rates, which are far better than those of CHI/NHA and other XAN−CHI/NHA NC scaffolds. The simulated body fluid studies showed XAN− CHI/NHA5 generated apatite-like surface structures of a Ca/P ratio ∼1.66. Also, the in vitro cell−material interaction studies with MG-63 cells revealed that relative to the CHI/NHA NC scaffold, the cellular viability, attachment, and proliferation were better on XAN−CHI/NHA scaffold surfaces, with XAN−CHI/ NHA5 specimens exhibiting an effective increment in cell spreading capacity compared to XAN−CHI/NHA4 and XAN−CHI/ NHA6 specimens. The presence of an osteo-friendly environment is also indicated by enhanced alkaline phosphatase expression and protein adsorption ability. The higher expression of extracellular matrix proteins, such as osteocalcin and osteopontin, finally validated the induction of differentiation of MG-63 cells by tricomposite scaffolds. In summary, this study demonstrates that the formation of PEC between XAN and CHI and incorporation of NHA in XAN−CHI PEC developed tricomposite scaffolds with robust potential for use in bone regeneration applications.

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The present frontiers of bone tissue engineering are being pushed by novel biomaterials that exhibit phenomenal biocompatibility and adequate mechanical strength. In this work, we fabricated a ternary system incorporating nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA)/gum arabic (GA)/κ-carrageenan (κ-CG) with varying concentrations, i.e., 60/30/10 (CHG1), 60/20/20 (CHG2), and 60/10/30 (CHG3). A binary system with n-HA and GA was also prepared with a ratio of 60/40 (HG) and compared with the ternary system. A rapid mineralization of the apatite layer was observed for the ternary systems after incubation in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 15 days as corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CHG2 exhibited the maximum apatite layer deposition. Further, the nanocomposites were physicochemically analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and mechanical testing. Their results revealed a substantial interaction among the components, appropriate crystallinity, and significantly enhanced compressive strength and modulus for the ternary nanocomposites. The greatest mechanical strength was achieved by the scaffold containing equal amounts of GA and κ-CG. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by culturing osteoblast-like MG63 cells, which exhibited the highest cell viability for the CHG2 nanocomposite system. It was further supported by confocal microscopy, which revealed the maximum cell proliferation for the CHG2 scaffold. In addition, enhanced antibacterial activity, protein adsorption, biodegradability, and osteogenic differentiation were observed for the ternary nanocomposites. Osteogenic gene markers, such as osteocalcin (OCN), osteonectin (ON), and osteopontin (OPN), were present in higher quantities in the CHG2 and CHG3 nanocomposites as confirmed by western blotting. These results substantiated the pertinence of n-HA-, GA-, and κ-CG-incorporated ternary systems to bone implant materials.

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Herein, nano-hydroxyapatite impregnated chitosan/k-carrageenan (nHAp/CHI/k-CGN) nanocomposite was prepared through co-precipitation approach and was compared with nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan (nHAp/CHI) nanocomposite for bone regeneration capability. The comparative assessment carried out through Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and mechanical testing revealed rough surface morphology, better interaction between the components, favorable crystallinity, and higher mechanical properties for the nHAp/CHI/k-CGN nanocomposite as compared to the bicomponent nanocomposite.Moreover, the in vitro biomineralization study showed increased deposition of apatite layer on nHAp/CHI/k-CGN nanocomposite as compared to nHAp/CHI nanocomposite. The cytocompatibility studies carried out using the MG-63 cell line revealed greater cell viability when cultured in the presence of nHAp/CHI/k-CGN nanocomposite as compared to nHAp/CHI. In addition, appropriate swelling ability, enhanced protein adsorption, and favorable degradation rate were also observed for the nHAp/CHI/k-CGN nanocomposite. All the results substantiate that nHAp/CHI/k-CGN nanocomposite could be a better candidate for bone regeneration.

The sharp increase in the bone defect related cases have derived an urgent search for novel bone implants which possess identical mechanical aspect as natural bone, along with commendable osteogenic property. Thus, to accomplish these requirements, in the present study, nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) reinforced guava seed (GS) – aloe vera (AV) gel nanocomposites were synthesized via a co precipitation approach with an attempt to induce bone mimicking activity. Three ternary systems were fabricated varying the concentration of different components as – nHA/GS/AV in the ratio of 70/20/10 (HGAV1), 70/15/15 (HGAV2) and 70/10/20 (HGAV3). All of the nanocomposites revealed a high cellular viability confirmed from fluorescence microscopy, increased osteogenic activity, phenomenal antibacterial activity, lower haemolysis, and high protein adsorption. These findings suggested that the use of natural products GS and AV gel for fabrication of nanocomposites gave them profound bioactivity and biocompatibility and exhibited a great potential in dental and orthopaedic applications.