Decellularization and oxidation process of bamboo stem enhance biodegradation and osteogenic differentiation

Highlights: • Bamboo stem matrix was subjected to decellularization and chemical oxidation. • The amorphous nature and hydrophilicity of matrix was enhanced upon oxidation. • Protein adsorption and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells was better on oxidized samples • The oxidized scaffold (mainly ODP0.5) undergone faster degradation in vivo. Many features that are appropriate for an ideal tissue engineered biomaterial are found in plant tissues. Hierarchically organized Bambusa vulgaris exhibits structural similarities to native bone, but the degradation of cellulose that is the main component of the plant cell wall is a challenge. In this study, Bamboo stem was subjected to decellularization followed by a chemical oxidation process (treated with sodium periodate) to enhance biocompatibility and biodegradation. The crystallinity of oxidised plant scaffolds was reduced, resulting in lower mechanical strength. In contrast, hydrophilicity was enhanced in those scaffolds. In vitro studies demonstrated better mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, viability, and osteogenic differentiation on oxidized scaffolds. Those scaffolds also induced angiogenesis, biocompatibility, and biodegradation when implanted subcutaneously in vivo. Hence, the present study demonstrated the usefulness of "oxidized decellularized plant" as bone scaffold for non-load-bearing applications.