Engineering TiO2 Nanoparticle-Biopolymer Nanocomposite to Enhance Bioactivity for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Herein, we developed TiO2 nanoparticle–biopolymer nanocomposites for bone tissue engineering, aiming to enhance osteoconductivity and reduce infection risk. The nanocomposites were fabricated using sodium alginate (SA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gellan gum (GG), and arabic gum (AG) as polymer matrices via solution casting and freeze-drying and featured highly porous three-dimensional structures. The uniform distribution of TiO2 throughout the polymer networks contributed to surface morphology, pore architecture, and structural stability improvement. The SA + TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited the highest swelling ratio (~91.5%) and porosity (~94.7%), while the CMC-, GG-, and AG-based nanocomposites demonstrated more regulated water absorption. Bioactivity evaluation in simulated body fluid revealed hydroxyapatite-like mineral deposition on all materials, confirming favorable osteoconductivity. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of TiO2 nanoparticle reinforcement for tailoring scaffold porosity, degradation, and bioactivity and highlight the utility of TiO2–biopolymer nanocomposites for bone tissue regeneration.