Tunable mechanical properties of Mo3Se3-poly vinyl alcohol-based/silk fibroin-based nanowire ensure the regeneration mechanism in tenocytes derived from human bone marrow stem cells.

ABSTRACT

Silk fibroin (SF) and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanomaterial has exceptional attention in regenerative medicine. However, the preparation of SF and PVA-based nanomaterials in the desired form is complex due to their poor mechanical strength, brittleness, and compatibility. To this end, Mo3Se3 is chosen as a bio-nanowire to fabricate by combining PVA and SF to improve the mechanical properties. Physicochemical and structural features of the Mo3Se3-PVA-SF nanowire hydrogel (Mo3Se3-PVA-SF-NWH) were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Mechanical properties, degradation ratio, hydrophilicity, water uptake capacity, biocompatibility, and biological activity of the hydrogel were also studied. Superior interactions were formed between the reinforcing molecules of Mo3Se3 and PVA/SF in the hydrogel network by introducing Mo3Se3 nanowire (NW) into the hydrogel. Conversely, Mo3Se3 NW imparts mechanical stability and robustness to the blends (hydrogel) with predictable long-term degradation characteristics. It was proven by in vitro biodegradable rate, and swelling behaviour was varied depending on the concentration of Mo3Se3 NW. Mo3Se3 reinforced the hydrogels and found high porosity with superior biocompatibility. Excellent cellular adaptation was analyzed by MTT assay, live/dead staining, western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). It revealed moderate toxicity at a concentration of 0.02% among the control samples. There was no discernible difference in 0.01% and 0.005% of Mo3Se3-PVA-SF-NWH in tenocytes derived from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC). Hence, this Mo3Se3-PVA-SF-NWH might be considered biocompatible due to its biological activities and appropriate mechanical properties. Overall, the Mo3Se3-PVA-SF-NWH might be considered a biocompatible scaffold for the possible biomedical applications of tendon tissue engineering.