Three-dimensional starch-based scaffold decorated with 64S bio-glass for accelerating rat model bone defect repair

Starch (ST)-based scaffold consists of aloe vera (AV) and 64S bioactive glass (BG) reinforced with quail egg shell powder (QE) was successfully fabricated through freeze-drying technique. Scaffolds revealed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, forming inhibition zones of 12.64-16.23 mm. Collagen I and Runt-related transcription factor 2 expressions as early-stage osteogenic differentiation markers were reported to be in the ranges of 34.11% +/- 1.46% to 69.47% +/- 1.64% and 34.31% +/- 2.43% to 71.47% +/- .94%, respectively. Moreover, the in vivo expression of osteopontin after 4 weeks of implantation was 25.39% +/- 2.92%/500 mu m for the blank group and 56.68% +/- 4.09%/500 mu m for the scaffold group, respectively. Moreover, new bone formation and proliferation of collagen fibers were observed in the scaffold group. Obtained results revealed that AV incorporated ST-BG-QE scaffold can be considered a promising candidate for bone tissue repair.