Hyaluronic Acid‐based Cell‐free Composite Scaffold Promotes Osteochondral Repair In Vitro by Upregulating Osteogenic‐ and Chondrogenic‐Specific Gene Expressions

Abstract

Osteochondral defects pose a significant challenge in clinical practice, leading to increased medical care, diminished quality of life for patients, and elevated economic burden. The restoration of osteochondral defects, particularly in cartilage, is limited by its finite repair capacity and complex architecture. Treatment based on regenerative therapies acclaims the favorable alternative to contemporary procedures. Studies reveal that engineered biomaterials hold the significant importance in stimulating tissue repair with minimal cost and risks. In this study, a porous composite scaffold is developed, where host cells infiltrate and create the microenvironment for cellular adhesion and enhanced differentiation. Thus, a composite scaffold composed of natural glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (HA), the protein component fibrin, bioceramic nanohydroxyapatite (nHAP), and graphene oxide (GO) is fabricated. Scanning electron microscopy observation and physiochemical characterization reveal an interconnected pore structure, optimum swelling potential, high porosity (80.14%), controlled biodegradation, high mechanical properties, and mineralization. Evaluation of scaffold's biocompatibility using osteoblast – like MG‐63 cells – shows adequate viability, cell adhesion, and osteoinductive potential. The upregulated expressions of osteogenic and chondrogenic genes OCN, ALP, COL1A1, ACAN, SOX9, and COL2A1 promote mineralization and extracellular matrix formation. These findings suggest that the composite scaffold HA‐GO‐F‐nHAP exhibits promising potential for osteochondral repair.