Osteoblast‐derived extracellular matrix coated PLLA/silk fibroin composite nanofibers promote osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) is one of the most commonly used synthetic materials for regenerative medicine, and silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein with excellent biocompatibility. Combination of PLLA and SF in a proper proportion by electrospinning may generate composite nanofibers that could meet the requirements of scaffolding in bone tissue engineering. The application of PLLA/SF nanofibrous scaffold for osteogenesis is well established in vitro and in vivo. However, PLLA/SF nanofibrous scaffold does not have an ideal ability to promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in modulating cellular behavior. However, the role of combination of natural ECM with nanofibrous scaffold in regulating osteogenic differentiation is unclear. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel composite PLLA/SF nanofibrous scaffold coated with osteoblast‐derived extracellular matrix (O‐ECM/PLLA/SF) and analyze the effects of the modified scaffold on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The surface structural features and compositions of the O‐ECM/PLLA/SF scaffold were characterized by SEM and immunofluorescence staining. The capacities of the O‐ECM/PLLA/SF scaffold to induce osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were investigated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining (ARS). The results showed BMSCs cultured on O‐ECM/PLLA/SF scaffold significantly increased osteogenic differentiation compared with cells cultured individually on a scaffold or O‐ECM. Collectively, these findings indicate that O‐ECM‐coated nanofibrous scaffold can be a promising strategy for osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, opening a new possibility of utilizing composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.