Development and characterization of synergistic curcumin-loaded diatomite/ decellularized tendon ECM composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Koç Demir A., Emin N., Elçin Y. M.

JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, cilt.127, 2027 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

Recent advances in tissue engineering have underscored a paradigm shift towards the utilization of natural-origin biomaterials for regenerative applications. In this study, novel composite scaffolds were developed via a freeze-drying technique by integrating decellularized tendon extracellular matrix (dECM) with curcumin-loaded diatomite (Dc) to create a multi-functional platform for bone tissue engineering (BTE). Following systematic optimization, 3% (w/v) diatomite was identified as the optimal concentration for structural stability. Among five distinct Dc formulations (Dc1 -> Dc5), Dc1 and Dc5 achieved high encapsulation efficiencies of 87.61% and 97.42%, respectively, with Dc5 exhibiting a superior loading capacity of 32.75%. Accordingly, Dc1-dECM and Dc5-dECM composite scaffolds were fabricated and comprehensively characterized. Physicochemical analyses confirmed the presence of a highly interconnected porous architecture and verified the successful incorporation of the functional components within the scaffold matrix. In vitro evaluations demonstrated that Dc5-dECM achieved a more pronounced cumulative release of similar to 51% compared to similar to 29% for Dc1-dECM over a 12-h period, following a Higuchi diffusion-controlled release mechanism. Both formulations exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity, excellent cytocompatibility (cell viability >85%), and hemocompatibility (hemolysis <5%). Ultimately, the synergistic combination of dECM's bioactive signaling milieus, diatomite's structural reinforcement, and curcumin's antioxidant properties confirm that these composite scaffolds, particularly the Dc5-dECM variant, provide a multi-functional regenerative niche for advanced BTE applications.