Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Materials Today Communications, cilt.48, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
This study aimed to investigate the potential of halloysite nanotube (HNT)-reinforced decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds derived from bovine tendon for applications in bone tissue engineering. To achieve this, HNT-dECM composite scaffolds were fabricated and systematically characterized through a series of physical, chemical, thermal, bioactivity, and mechanical assessments. Initially, bovine tendon tissue was subjected to a decellularization process, the efficacy of which was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DNA quantification, and protein content analysis. The findings demonstrated that the decellularization protocol effectively eliminated cellular components while preserving the structural integrity and biochemical components of ECM. The characterized dECM pre-gel solutions were incorporated with 1 %, 2 % and 4 % HNT and then dECM-based scaffolds were analyzed for their physical, chemical, mechanical and morphological properties. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility were investigated to assess the biocompatibility of the composite scaffolds. Comprehensive analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of both dECM and HNT in all scaffold groups. Notably, scaffolds containing up to 2 % HNT exhibited enhanced mechanical strength, improved thermal stability, and well-defined interconnected porosity. Moreover, the combination of in vitro cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility assessments highlighted the suitability of the constructs as scaffolds while minimizing adverse biological reactions. Collectively, these results underscore the applicability of HNT-reinforced dECM scaffolds, particularly those incorporating 2 % HNT, as a promising candidate in the advancement of regenerative medicine solutions for bone-related applications.