Effects of beta‐tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles on the properties of a thermosensitive chitosan/collagen hydrogel and controlled release of quercetin

Abstract

In the present study, an inorganic matrix of beta‐tricalcium phosphate (bTCP) nanoparticles and quercetin was incorporated into an organic matrix of 2:1 (w/w) chitosan/collagen composite to fabricate thermosensitive bTCP‐chitosan/collagen‐quercetin hydrogels. A sol–gel transition of the hydrogels was stimulated by beta‐glycerophosphate (bGP) and temperature changes at physiological temperature and pH levels. Thereafter, the effects of 1%–3% (w/v) bTCP on properties of the bTCP‐bGP‐2:1 (w/w) chitosan/collagen hydrogels were investigated. Notably, the incorporation of 1%–3% (w/v) bTCP in the hydrogels did not interfere with the gelation process and time of the hydrogels at physiological temperature and pH levels. The bTCP‐hydrogels exhibited a porous structure, interconnecting pore architecture, and median pore size of 100–200 μm. The incorporation of 3% bTCP increased the mechanical strength but decreased the swelling and degradation rates, pore size, permeability, and quercetin release rate of the hydrogels. The hydrogels were noncytotoxic and able to support cell encapsulation. A sustained quercetin release profile of the 3% bTCP‐hydrogel further suggested the applicability of the hydrogel as a delivery vehicle of natural flavonoids for bone regeneration.

Novel Epigenetic Modulation Chitosan-Based Scaffold as a Promising Bone Regenerative Material

“…All our testing results proved that CS-based scaffolds with 20% of BCP meet or exceed the minimum requirements of physicochemical performance for bone tissue engineering scaffolds. This phenomenon is attributed not only to the formation of a strong network penetration of BCP particles into the surface of CS networks but also to strong ionic interaction between PO 4 −3 in BCP with NH 3+ in CS [ 35 , 36 ].…”

Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels: The Old and New Functional Materials

“…Defects in the filler may affect the application of the gel. It has been reported that the addition of tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles increases the mechanical strength while decreases the swelling and degradation rate, pore size, permeability, and quercetin release rate of the hydrogel [55]. For instance, as shown in Figure 3(c), a series of hybrid graphene oxide (GO)/PVA composite hydrogels have been reported with different potential applications in artificial cartilage and tissue engineering [56,57].…”

Multi-Crosslinked Strong and Elastic Bioglass/Chitosan-Cysteine Hydrogels with Controlled Quercetin Delivery for Bone Tissue Engineering

“…When a hydrogel is employed as the carrier for the local administration of Que, the key issue concerned is how to efficiently load enough amount of Que into the hydrogel and manage its controlled and sustained release. Direct loading of Que into hydrogels with the aid of organic solvents such as ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide has been explored [ 33 , 36 , 53 ]. In doing so, the organic solvent should be removed from the resulting hydrogels otherwise such Que-loaded hydrogels may cause potential side effects due to the solvent release; in addition, this kind of Que-loaded hydrogel usually shows a severe initial burst because in many cases, hydrogels constructed with natural polymers have limited ability to administer the controlled and sustained release of drugs or biomolecules [ 8 ].…”

“…Quercetin (Que) is a kind of naturally sourced flavonoid compound and it shows a wide spectrum of biological activities [ 31 , 32 ], including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, anti-carcinogenicity, immunomodulatory actions, and so on. Que has also been used for bone repair due to its functions for promoting osteogenesis, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and so on [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”