Multipurpose triadic MXene/garlic/gellan gum-based architecture in the horizon of bone tissue regeneration

Nanoscale. 2025 Jan 17. doi: 10.1039/d4nr03995e. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The use of bioresorbable compositions has been considered a promising therapeutic approach for treating compromised bone tissues. Gellan gum (GG) is a predominant polysaccharide recognized for its exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, facile bio-fabrication, and customizable mechanical attributes, rendering it well-suited for developing versatile bone scaffolds. On the other hand, MXene nanosheets have been declared a representational filler to augment the osteogenic effect and amend the mechanical properties of the polymeric biomaterials. Herein, the GG/MXene system was formulated to investigate the synergistic impact of gellan gum and MXene on promoting bone tissue engineering. Accordingly, Ti3C2Tx MXene nanogalleries were synthesized and loaded with 1, 3, and 5 wt% ratios into the GG matrix to fortify the overall performances. Based on the outcomes, the GG containing 1 wt% MXene showed a homogeneous surface with an optimized topography, providing greater amorphous regions (15%), boosted hydrophilicity (27.5°), and a favorable Young's modulus (13.43 MPa). Additionally, the designed scaffold provided exceptional osteogenetic adhesion and bactericidal behavior against both Gram-positive (S. aureus) and -negative (E. coli) bacteria. To achieve more desirable biological performance, 1 ml garlic extract (GA) was introduced to the freeze-dried composite network. The results exhibited better cell attachment in the porous GA-mediated scaffold with furthered antibacterial features through an increase in the zone diameter breakpoint from 4.8 ± 0.2 and 5.0 ± 0.1 mm to 5.9 ± 0.3 and 6.2 ± 0.2 mm against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Therefore, embedding GA, alongside MXene layered nanomaterials, into the GG-based matrix could provide a convenient scaffolding architecture for guided bone regeneration, facilitating appropriate cell attachment, growth, and proliferation.