Agar/carboxymethyl cellulose composite film loaded with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for bone regeneration

Biomaterials engineering approaches for treating bone defects involve utilizing a combination of potent bioactive molecules to stimulate cell proliferation, fostering a conducive environment and scaffold for the regeneration process. Due to the aging global population, there is an urgent need for research in bone regeneration and wound healing. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a major mineral component of bone tissue with high biocompatibility and bioactivity. Agar and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) both exhibit the essential characteristics of biomaterials, either separately or in combination. Hence, this present study aimed to prepare HAP nanoparticles loaded Agar/CMC composite film for enhanced bone regenerative applications. The crystal structure, morphology, phase composition, thermal stability, and chemical state of the film composites were characterized using XRD, SEM, TGA, and FTIR. Cytotoxicity evaluation on rat fibroblasts cells indicated over 90% biocompatibility for the film composites. Moreover, in wound healing assays, the nanocomposite film-treated group (98.14 ± 0.15%) exhibited a 35% higher wound closure rate compared to the negative control group (62.08 ± 1.87%). Alizarin Red Staining assay revealed a 20.89 ± 6.9% increase in calcium deposition in treated MC3T3-E1 cells compared to the negative control, affirming their osteogenic potential. These results demonstrate that the developed nanocomposite film is a promising therapeutic platform for effectively addressing complex bone-related ailments.