Natural polymer hydrogels that mimic the extracellular matrix have garnered increasing interest for bone regeneration. However, simply promoting cell adhesion in the hydrogel is insufficient for optimal bone regeneration; modulating macrophage immune polarization is also critical for accelerating healing. Herein, sugarcane bagasse xylan has been used to modify sericin/gelatin composite hydrogel to develop a modified composite hydrogel, which aims to mimic the composition of the native bone tissue. The physicochemical properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized, and the inflammation regulation and osteogenic ability of the hydrogels in vitro were investigated. The results show that the carboxymethylated bagasse xylan can significantly change the physicochemical properties of the composite hydrogel. The morphology and chemical analysis revealed that the inter- and intra-molecular covalent bonding interactions were formed within the hydrogels, leading to a remarkably enhanced thermal stability and swell ratio of the hydrogel. Cellular experiments have demonstrated that the composite hydrogels promote cell proliferation and activity, exhibiting excellent cytocompatibility. They also facilitate the polarization of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype and significantly enhance the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, thereby manifesting superior osteogenic capacity. This study provides a novel perspective on the application of sugarcane bagasse xylan in bone repair.
Lai et al. (Sat,) studied this question.