3D printed scaffolds with quercetin and vitamin D3 nanocarriers: In vitro cellular evaluation

Abstract

AbstractIncreasing bone diseases and anomalies significantly challenge bone regeneration, necessitating the development of innovative implantable devices for effective healing. This study explores the potential of 3D‐printed calcium phosphate (CaP) scaffolds functionalized with natural medicine to address this issue. Specifically, quercetin and vitamin D3 (QVD) encapsulated solid lipid nanoparticles (QVD‐SLNs) are incorporated into the scaffold to enhance bone regeneration. The melt emulsification method is utilized to achieve high drug encapsulation efficiency (~98%) and controlled biphasic release kinetics. The process‐structure–property performance of these systems allows more controlled release while maintaining healthy cell–material interactions. The functionalized scaffolds show ~1.3‐ and ~‐1.6‐fold increase in osteoblast cell proliferation and differentiation, respectively, as compared with the control. The treated scaffold demonstrates a reduction in osteoclastic activity as compared with the control. The QVD‐SLN‐loaded scaffolds show ~4.2‐fold in vitro chemopreventive potential against osteosarcoma cells. Bacterial assessment with both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows a significant reduction in bacterial colony growth over the treated scaffold. These findings summarize that the release of QVD‐SLNs through a 3D‐printed CaP scaffold can treat various bone‐related disorders for low or non‐load‐bearing applications.