Anti-inflammatory and osteogenic nanofibrous scaffolds of bioactive glass/carboxymethyl chitosan-reinforced PCL short fibers for alveolar bone regeneration

Repairing critical alveolar bone defects in inflammatory microenvironments is challenging. To address this, dual-functional nanofibrous scaffolds with anti-inflammatory and osteogenic properties were developed. These scaffolds incorporate polycaprolactone (PCL) short fibers and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs), fabricated through electrospinning and sol-gel processes, respectively. 3D Fibrous scaffolds were achieved through sequential dispersion, homogenization, thermal self-assembly, and surface modification. During this process, gelatin facilitated the self-assembly of the scaffold, while carboxymethyl chitosan was used to integrate MBGN into the PCL scaffolds. Characterization confirmed a porous structure of scaffolds and enhanced mechanical and in vitro acellular properties after MBGN incorporation. Non-cytotoxicity was confirmed by CCK-8 and Live/Dead assays. Flow cytometry showed scaffold-induced macrophage polarization from M1 (pro-inflammatory) to M2 (anti-inflammatory), supported by qRT-PCR and ELISA, which showed reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. In co-culture with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, the scaffolds promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization, as shown by ALP/ARS staining and increased expression of osteogenic markers (RUNX2, OCN). These findings highlight the dual immunomodulatory and osteogenic functions of the scaffolds, suggesting their potential as a promising strategy for inflammatory alveolar bone regeneration.