Volume 8, Issue 3 (Accepted manuscript 2026)
pbp 2026, 8(3): 0-0 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Bagheri Doulabifard M, Hassanzadeh Nemati N, Ramezani Saadatabadi A. Development and Optimization of Three-Dimensionally Printed Polylactic Acid/Titanium Dioxide Scaffolds Incorporating Curcumin for Bone Tissue Engineering and Regeneration. pbp 2026; 8 (3)
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-439-en.html
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-439-en.html
1- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ,nahid_hassanzadeh@iau.ac.ir
3- Department of Chemistry, Sharif University, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ,
3- Department of Chemistry, Sharif University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (13 Views)
Curcuma longa L., commonly known as turmeric, is an important medicinal plant rich in biologically active constituents. Among its major bioactive compounds, curcumin has attracted considerable attention because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, as well as its potential to promote osteogenic activity and bone tissue regeneration. Despite these promising biological properties, the poor aqueous solubility and limited bioavailability of curcumin substantially restrict its effective application in biomedical fields. Localized and controlled delivery systems may therefore offer a practical approach to overcoming these limitations. In the present study, turmeric-derived curcumin was incorporated as a plant-based bioactive compound into three-dimensionally printed polylactic acid/titanium dioxide (PLA/TiO₂) scaffolds designed for bone tissue engineering. Two curcumin-loading strategies were investigated and compared: (i) direct incorporation of curcumin into the printing ink (PTC) and (ii) post-printing coating of PLA/TiO₂ scaffolds with a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose–curcumin layer (PT/HC). The resulting scaffolds were characterized with respect to morphology, chemical composition, swelling behavior, biodegradability, cellular morphology, and cell viability. Both loading strategies enabled successful incorporation of curcumin while preserving the intended porous architecture of the scaffolds. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of curcumin and the polymeric coating without substantial changes in the chemical structure of the underlying matrix. Owing to the hydrophilic nature of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, PT/HC exhibited slightly greater swelling (166 ± 5%) than PTC (161 ± 7%). Biodegradation assessment over 28 days revealed a distinct two-stage degradation profile for PT/HC, presumably reflecting the initial degradation of the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coating followed by degradation of the PLA/TiO₂ matrix. Both scaffold types demonstrated favorable cellular responses, with cell viability remaining above 85% throughout the culture period. However, PTC supported significantly higher cell viability than PT/HC, potentially reflecting differences in curcumin incorporation and release behavior between the two loading strategies. Overall, these findings indicate that the incorporation of turmeric-derived curcumin as a plant-based bioactive compound into PLA/TiO₂ scaffolds represents a promising strategy for developing bioactive platforms for bone tissue engineering. Among the approaches evaluated, direct incorporation of curcumin into the PLA/TiO₂ matrix provided more favorable biological performance while maintaining scaffold stability and cellular compatibility, highlighting its potential as a localized delivery strategy for this plant-derived bioactive compound in bone regenerative applications.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Biotechnology
Received: 2026/05/21 | Accepted: 2026/08/26 | Published: 2026/01/11
Received: 2026/05/21 | Accepted: 2026/08/26 | Published: 2026/01/11
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |