MgO-incorporated porous nanofibrous scaffold promotes osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts

A feasible approach to fabricate porous nanofibrous scaffolds structurally similar to native extracellular matrix was reported. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were incorporated into electrospun poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/gelatin membranes, which were processed into short fibers and reconstructed to three-dimensional scaffolds. The scaffold exhibited sponge-like appearance with interconnected pores ranging from 50 to 200 µm and was highly elastic. MgO nanoparticles hydrolyzed and alleviated the acidic degradation products of PLA/gelatin scaffold. Released magnesium ions were beneficial to pre-osteoblasts by promoting proliferation and by upregulating osteogenic differentiation, indicating that the scaffold might find opportunities for bone grafting materials.