Enhanced bone regeneration and cellular protection from oxidative stress using a vitamin C-based scaffold

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Physics, Prince Shri Venkateshwara Padmavathy Engineering college, Ponmar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India -600 127

2 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India -641202

3 Department of Chemistry, New Prince Shri Bhavani College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India- 600073

4 Department of Chemistry, S. A. Engineering College, Thiruverkadu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India-600 077

5 Department of Chemistry, Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology, Kuthambakkam, Chembarambakkam, Tamil Nadu, India -600124

6 Department of Chemistry, R.M.D. Engineering College, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, India - 601 206

7 Centre for Nanobiomedicine, Sciliv Pvt Ltd, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu, India-636701

8 Center for Bioanalytical research, Sciliv Pvt Ltd, Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu, India-636701

10.22038/ijbms.2025.90640.19530

Abstract

Objective(s): To fabricate and investigate a novel VitC@HAP-HYA nanocomposite scaffold that combines the osteoconductive attributes of hydroxyapatite (HAP), the extracellular matrix-replicating properties of hyaluronic acid (HYA), and the osteoinductive/antioxidant effects of Vitamin C (VitC) for enhanced bone regeneration.
Materials and Methods: The composite was developed using an in-situ precipitation method.  Physicochemical characterisation (FT-IR, XRD, and HR-TEM) was used to validate the composition, crystallinity, and shape.  The examination of Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) evaluated bioactivity.  The biological assessments used the MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell line, including MTT and AO/PI tests for biocompatibility, DAPI labelling for cell colonization, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity to assess early osteogenic differentiation, and Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining for biomineralization analysis. Monitoring of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) evaluated its cytoprotective efficacy against oxidative stress.
Results: FT-IR and XRD analyses confirmed the effective integration of amorphous VitC and HYA into HAP, yielding a stable 120 nm nanocomposite.  The SBF study demonstrated fast production of a calcium phosphate layer, indicating elevated bioactivity.  In cell culture, VitC@HAP-HYA demonstrated enhanced cell survival and colonization, as well as strong biocompatibility.  It markedly improved early-stage osteogenic commitment and late-stage biomineralization compared with HAP and HAP-HYA controls.  Moreover, the composite exhibited enhanced cytoprotective properties by inhibiting intracellular ROS in H2O2-treated cells.
Conclusion: The VitC@HAP-HYA composite effectively combines multifunctional qualities, demonstrating superior bioactivity, increased osteogenic potential, and vital cytoprotective features.  These results robustly endorse its potential as a sophisticated framework for bone tissue engineering, including applications such as anti-cancer bone excision repair.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 December 2025

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