Osteogenic and angiogenic gelatin-coated Whitlockite nanoparticles incorporated chitosan composite scaffold for alveolar bone regeneration.

The prevalence of alveolar bone resorption and consequent tooth loss in patients with periodontitis is a significant concern for oral health. The current treatment modalities for alveolar bone loss aim to repair the periodontium and address the specific type of defect that has developed. Advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative therapeutic approaches address the need for proper tissue restoration, including alveolar bone. To counter these challenges, a composite scaffold was designed and synthesized with 5 % gelatin-coated whitlockite nanoparticles incorporated in chitosan (CS-5GCnWH) and its gelatin-free counterpart as a control (CS-5nWH) for alveolar bone regeneration using the freeze-drying method. The gelatin-coated whitlockite (GCnWH) particles were synthesized using a novel one-pot method. The physicochemical properties of the developed GCnWH and the scaffolds were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDS, FT-IR spectroscopy, and XRD. The prepared CS-5GCnWH composite scaffold exhibits its macroporous nature with a controlled degradation rate (35.17 % ± 5.58 % after 49 days, in vitro), optimal swelling behavior, and enhanced serum protein adsorption ability. The inclusion of nWH and GCnWH particles significantly improved the compressive strength of CS scaffolds (over 1.5 times). Tested for biocompatibility using dental follicular stem cells (DFSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), it features excellent biocompatibility (> 100 and > 90 %, respectively) and DFSC attachment. CS-5GCnWH also demonstrated the enhanced RUNX2 and OPN marker expression, osteogenic mineralization, and excellent tube formation, proving its angiogenic potential. Thus, this developed composite scaffold ultimately marked its promising role as a biomaterial for alveolar bone regeneration in periodontitis-afflicted patients.