This study reports the development of 3D‐printed gallic acid (GA) incorporated nano‐hydroxyapatite /carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (GA/HAp/CMC/GEL) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering with combined bioactive and antibacterial functionality. Rheological studies indicated shear thinning behavior of all the hydrogels. After 3D printing, the samples were cross‐linked by 100 mM 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride. The scaffolds exhibited a well‐defined, interconnected pore architecture. Mechanical testing revealed that GA increased ultimate compressive strength and ductility. All scaffolds showed apatite‐forming ability in simulated body fluid, with cauliflower‐like mineral layers. X‐ray diffraction analysis indicated that HaP peaks sharpness was consistent for all scaffolds. Although MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblasts cultured on GA‐containing scaffolds exhibited significantly increased metabolic activity, Alizarin red staining due to MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblast mineralization was reduced after incorporation of GA, which requires further investigation. 0.20% GA scaffold achieved up to 62.0% and 78.1% reduction in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus viability, respectively. Overall, GA‐loaded HAp/CMC/GEL scaffolds combine bioactivity, cytocompatibility, tunable mechanics, and concentration‐dependent antibacterial activity, indicating their promise as multifunctional candidates for bone tissue engineering.
Güven et al. (Wed,) studied this question.