The impact of zirconium oxide nanoparticles content on alginate dialdehyde-gelatin scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering

The desire to regenerate and repair native tissues can be immediately performed by multiple tissue engineering procedures. Gelatin and alginate are biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. The addition of ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) into the alginate-gelatin hydrogel is considered to improve mechanical and chemical properties. Therefore, nanocomposite hydrogels have been manufactured by the freeze-drying procedure utilizing oxidized alginate-gelatin with ZrO2 NPs as a reinforcement. The fabricated nanocomposite hydrogels were character-ized by FTIR, FESEM, and rheometer. The hydrogels containing a higher ZrO2 NPs content (1.5%) have better mechanical properties than the hydrogels without NPs. Besides, the swelling behavior, in vitro biodegradation, cell viability and cell attachment of the nanocomposite hydrogels were studied. The outcomes revealed better swelling and regulated biodegradation compared to the hydrogel without NPs. Cell viability investigations confirmed the non-toxic nature of the nanocomposite hydrogels. Cells were observed to be attached to the surfaces and regularly separated through the hydrogels. These outcomes recommended that the advanced nanocomposite hydrogels have the prerequisites for cartilage tissue regeneration and could be utilized for numerous cartilage tissue engineering purposes. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated the preparation method of adding ZrO2 nanoparticles to hydrogels and the properties of the resulting nanocomposite hydrogels. The results showed that hydrogels containing ZrO2 NPs exhibited improved mechanical properties and better biodegradability, suggesting potential applications for cartilage tissue regeneration.