Physically Crosslinked Nanocomposites from Silicate-Crosslinked PEO: Mechanical Properties and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The mechanical and biological properties of silicate‐crosslinked PEO nanocomposites are studied. A strong correlation is observed between silicate concentration and mechanical properties. In vitro cell culture studies reveal that an increase in silicate concentration enhances the attachment and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells significantly. An upregulation in the expression of osteocalcin on nanocomposites compared to the tissue culture polystyrene control is observed. Together, these results suggest that silicate‐based nanocomposites are bioactive and have the potential to be used in a range of biotechnological and biomedical applications such as injectable matrices, biomedical coatings, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Physically crosslinked nanocomposite hydrogels and dried films are obtained from silicate nanoparticles and PEO. Physical crosslinking of polymer chains leads to the formation of viscoelastic hydrogels and stiff films. Silicate promotes adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of hMSCs and can potentially be used for diverse tissue engineering applications.