Development of a Novel Scaffold Based on Basil Seed Gum/Chitosan Hydrogel Containing Quercetin-Loaded Zein Microshphere for Bone Tissue Engineering

The chitosan-based hydrogel has high potential in tissue engineering; however, its performance is relatively poor in practice. Here, an easy method is introduced to produce high strength composite chitosan hydrogel. Chitosan (CS) and Basil seed gum (BSG) are converted into a 3-dimensional hydrogel with the assistance of Gallic acid (GA) as a cross-linking agent. The incorporation of GA into CS-BSG hydrogel forms cross-linking bonds (hydrogen bonds) between GA and polymer chains. The experimental results show that the GA cross-linked hydrogel has a dense microstructure, good mechanical properties, high porosity, thermal stability, and a high swelling ratio. With the high antioxidant activity and good biocompatibility, these properties make the GA-crosslinked hydrogel as a promising material for tissue engineering. Furthermore, adding quercetin loaded-Zein microsphere in the optimal hydrogel (the hydrogel containing the highest concentration of GA) proved to have a synergistic effect on the mentioned characteristics of the hydrogel. Cell culture tests confirmed that this scaffold is nontoxic and biocompatible for cell proliferation. The prepared hydrogels hold great potential as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications based on the results.