Preparation and osteogenic properties of nanocomposite hydrogel beads loaded with nanometric bioactive glass particles

Abstract Bone reconstruction in the oral and maxillofacial region presents particular challenges related to the development of biomaterials with osteoinductive properties and suitable physical characteristics for their surgical use in irregular bony defects. In this work, the preparation and bioactivity of chitosan–gelatin (ChG) hydrogel beads loaded with either bioactive glass nanoparticles (nBG) or mesoporous bioactive glass nanospheres (nMBG) were studied. In vitro testing of the bionanocomposite beads was carried out in simulated body fluid, and through viability and osteogenic differentiation assays using dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). In vivo bone regenerative properties of the biomaterials were assessed using a rat femoral defect model and compared with a traditional maxillary allograft (Puros®). ChG hydrogel beads containing homogeneously distributed BG nanoparticles promoted rapid bone—like apatite mineralization and induced the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs in vitro . The bionanocomposite beads loaded with either nBG or nMBG also produced a greater bone tissue formation in vivo as compared to Puros® after 8 weeks of implantation. The osteoinductivity capacity of the bionanocomposite hydrogel beads coupled with their physical properties make them promissory for the reconstruction of irregular and less accessible maxillary bone defects.