Enhancing Bone Regeneration with Silybin-Loaded PCL/Gelatin/Nanoclay Nanocomposite Scaffolds: An In Vitro & In Vivo Study

This study focuses on the development of a 3-dimensional porous scaffold using Polycaprolactone/Gelatin/Nanoclay (PCL/GNF/NC) for bone tissue engineering. The scaffold incorporates varying dosages of silybin (Sil) through a mixture of electrospinning and thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS) techniques. Assessments of surface shape, porosity, compressive strength, water contact angle, degradation rate, releasing profile, hemolysis, and cell proliferation were among the investigations carried out to appraise the manufactured scaffolds. In vivo evaluation utilized a rat calvaria defect model, with histological analysis employed to assess the results. The scaffolds exhibited porosity within the range of 70-90%, and those containing silybin demonstrated lower compressive strength and contact angle, along with a higher degradation rate compared to those without silybin. Release experiments revealed a 61.09% release of silybin after 28 days. In both in vivo and in vitro assessments, the PCL/GNF/NC/Sil1% scaffold displayed superior cell proliferation and bone healing properties compared to other groups. These findings suggest the potential efficacy of silybin in bone defect treatment, warranting further investigation in future research.