Highly bioactive Akermanite-Monticellite nanocomposites for bone tissue engineering: a tunable three-dimensional biological study

Emerging bioengineering approaches such as three-dimensional (3D) cell culture methods have opened new avenues for scaffolds combined with various therapeutic agents in bone tissue regeneration. In this regard, bioceramic nanocomposite compounds have been prominently studied in bone and dental tissue engineering, due to their potential for diseased bone regeneration. We synthesized in situ bioceramic nanocomposite using a combination of sol–gel and mechanical activation that the nanocomposite contained Akermanite as a major phase, and Monticellite as a minor phase. After physicochemical characterization (crystallite size of Ak and Mon were 58 and 48 nm respectively), cell viability and pertinent biological studies of the nanocomposite powder showed 1.5 times the control value. The results reported the enhanced cell viability in 2D conditions, and 3D culture with bone tissue spheroids (viability was almost 150%). Furthermore, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) was tested in both monolayer and spheroid conditions, and the results indicated a boosted ALP activity in 2D and 3D condition (4 and 2 times the control value respectively). Additionally, nanocomposite powder extracts promoted the expression of both the COL1 and VEGF genes in 3D cultures (5 and 1.5 times the first day value respectively), showing the extract capability in accelerating bone spheroid formation. The current proof-of-concept study showed that 3D culture technology could provide a valuable way to understand the potential of tissue engineering before undertaking costly and harsh animal studies.