Combination of Nano-Hydroxyapatite with Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering seeks to exploit functional biomaterials and engineer them to serve as artificial templates that promote the regeneration of tissues and damaged organs. Engineered scaffold materials recapitulate the extracellular matrix and provide cells with information essential for tissue development. Nanotechnologies make use of the material at the nanoscale for targeted interactions at molecular levels and deliver biochemical cues for cell growth required for tissue formation. In bone tissue engineering, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), which is a calcium phosphate-based material, is extensively used as a bone defect substitute to mimic the natural bioceramic portion of bone. nHA can be functionalized in the form of composite scaffolds along with other polymers, ceramic, and growth factors to enable bone tissue regeneration. In addition, the material directs stem cell differentiation into specific lineages. This stem cell-based therapy is a prominent approach in organ development and tissue regeneration. Here, we examine nHA interactions with stem cells in the form of designed scaffolds and offer important considerations about the fundamental challenges and prospects for its application in bone tissue engineering.