Harnessing dual gradients of topography and mineralization via a modified electrospinning strategy in polyacrylonitrile/MWCNT nanofibrous membranes for enhanced osteogenic differentiation

The rational design of bone-regenerative scaffolds requires precise control over nano-to microscale architecture and biomineralization kinetics. Here, we report a modified electrospinning strategy to fabricate PAN/MWCNT nanofibrous scaffolds with a gradient topography ranging from aligned to random orientations. This unique architecture harnesses anisotropy to accelerate HAp mineralization, achieving spatially controlled, gradient HAp deposition across the scaffold. Incorporation of MWCNTs not only enhanced the conductivity and nucleation sites for HAp but also synergized with the gradient structure to promote rapid and uniform biomineralization. Upon hMSC seeding, distinct osteogenic outcomes emerged depending on both MWCNT incorporation and scaffold topography, whereby variations in hydroxyapatite mineralization along the gradient framework translated into differential bonelike matrix formation. These findings reveal how topographical gradients and conductive nanocomposites act in concert to orchestrate cell-material interactions, guiding osteogenesis through spatially defined biomineral cues. Collectively, this study establishes a bioinspired and potentially translatable platform for next-generation bone regeneration therapies and highlights the broader promise of gradient-engineered nanofiber systems in regenerative medicine.