Fabrication of bacterial cellulose-collagen composite scaffolds and their osteogenic effect on human mesenchymal stem cells

Scaffold plays a critical role in stem cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Composite scaffolds composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) and collagen (Col) in different ratios (1:1, 3:1, 5:1) were fabricated in this study. The composite scaffolds exhibit a well-organized interconnected porous structure, significantly better physical stability than Col scaffold, and more water uptake up to 400%. They were also favorable with cell attachment and growth. After osteogenic induction of umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) for 3 weeks, we found more up-regulated osteogenic markers (collagen type 1, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein) and significantly elevated proteins and calcium deposition, particularly with BC/Col (5:1) scaffold. When PKH-26 pre-labelled MSC-loaded scaffolds were subcutaneously transplanted in a mouse model, they showed many PKH-26-labelled cells and positive signals of α-smooth muscle actin, for neovascularization in the BC/Col (5:1). The current work demonstrates that our BC/Col composites may be promising as a bone tissue-engineered scaffold.