In situ Grown Curcumin-Loaded MOFs on SrCO3 Functionalized Scaffold for Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation via Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities

To address the challenges posed by excessive inflammatory responses and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the complex microenvironment during pathological bone defect repair, this study developed a composite scaffold. First, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) loaded with curcumin (CCM) was grown in situ on the surface of strontium carbonate (SrCO3) to form SrCO3@CZIF-8 composite particles with a core−shell structure. Subsequently, these particles were integrated into a poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) matrix using selective laser sintering technology. Experimental results indicate that the CCM and Zn2+ ions released during scaffold degradation effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals (with a scavenging efficiency of 61.98% after 24 h) and significantly alleviate inflammatory responses. Furthermore, the released Sr2+ ions enhance osteogenic activity and promote osteogenic differentiation, suggesting that this scaffold holds potential for bone defect repair in complex pathological environments.