Nigella Sativa-Coated Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds: Synergetic Cues to Stimulate Myoblasts Differentiation and Offset Infections

BACKGROUND: At present osteoporosis has come into view as a major health concern. Skeletal diseases typified by weak and fragile bones have imposed threats of fissure. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is known to induce osteoblast like differentiation and provide mechanical strength, hence, used in bone tissue engineering; whereas, Nigella sativa has also demonstrated potential to treat bone and muscle diseases. This study was aimed to develop potential orthopedic scaffold exploiting natural resources of Saudi Arabia which can be used as prospective tissue engineering implant. METHODS: The bone scaffold was developed by grafting biogenic HAP with N. sativa essential oil. N. sativa was applied for boosting osteogenesis and to stimulate antimicrobial potential. Antimicrobial potential was investigated utilizing S. aureus bacteria. Spectroscopic and surface characters of N. sativa grafted HAP scaffolds were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and Scanning electron microscopy. To ensure biocompatibility of scaffolds; we selected C2C12 cell-lines; best model to study mechanistic pathways related to osteoblasts and myoblasts differentiation. RESULTS: Grafting of HAP with N. sativa did not affect typical spherical silhouette of nanoparticles. Characteristically; protein loaded polynucleated myotubes are result of in vitro myogenesis of C2C12 myoblasts in squat serum environment. CONCLUSION: It is first study of unique combination of N. sativa and HAP scaffold as a possible candidate of implantation for skeletal muscles regeneration. Outcome of this finding revealed N. sativa grafted HAP enhance differentiation significantly over that of HAP. The proposed scaffold will be an economical natural material for hard and soft tissue engineering and will aid in curing skeletal muscle diseases. Our findings have implications for treatment of muscular/bone diseases.