Here, we fabricated the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)-loaded PCL/chitosan (PCL/CS-PRF) core-shell nanofibrous scaffold through a coaxial electrospinning method. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of CS-RPF in the core layer of the nanofibrous on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs). The elastic modulus of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffold (44 MPa) was about 1.5-fold of PCL/CS scaffold (25 MPa). The specific surface area of the scaffolds increased from 9.98 m2/g for PCL/CS scaffold to 16.66 m2/g for the PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Moreover, the release rate of PRF from PCL/CS-PRF nanofibrous scaffold was measured to be 24.50% after 10 days which showed slow and sustained release of PRF from the nanofibrous. The formation of Ca-P on the surface of scaffold immersed in simulated body fluid solution indicated the suitable osteoconductivity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. Also, the value of ALP activity and calcium deposited on the surface of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold were 81.97 U/L and 40.33 μg/scaffold, respectively after 14 days, which confirmed the significantly higher amounts of ALP and calcium deposition on the scaffold containing PRF compared to PCL/CS scaffold. Due to higher hydrophilicity and porosity of PCL/CS-PRF core-shell nanofibrous scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, a better bone cell growth on surface of PCL/CS-PRF scaffold was observed. The Alizarin red-positive area was significantly higher on PCL/CS-PRF scaffold compared to PCL/CS scaffold, indicating more calcium deposition and osteogenic differentiation of HMSCs in the presence of PRF. Our findings demonstrate that PCL/CS-PRF core-shell scaffolds can provide a strong construct with improved osteogenic for bone tissue engineering applications.
Keywords: Bone tissue engineering; Chitosan; Core-shell nanofibrous scaffold; Osteogenic differentiation; Platelet-rich fibrin.
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