Effect of chitosan–hydroxyapatite scaffolds seeded with cryopreserved hADMSCs on bone sialoprotein secretion

Tooth extraction can lead to alveolar bone resorption, requiring regenerative approaches using biomaterial scaffolds combined with stem cells. Chitosan–hydroxyapatite (CS–HA), a well-established scaffold that mimics the composition of human bone, combined with stem cells represents a promising strategy to promote bone formation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chitosan–hydroxyapatite (CS-HA) scaffolds seeded with cryopreserved human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) on bone sialoprotein (BSP) secretion. The hADMSCs used in this study were commercially obtained cryopreserved cells (ATCC® PCS-500-011™) and were characterized by flow cytometry. Scaffolds were fabricated using a freeze-drying method by combining chitosan and hydroxyapatite in a 1 : 1 ratio, followed by freezing at −80 °C. A post-test-only control group design was employed, consisting of 36 samples divided into three groups: positive control (CS-HA + hADMSCs + a-MEM), negative control (hADMSCs + osteogenic medium), and treatment (CS-HA + hADMSCs + osteogenic medium), and BSP levels were subsequently quantified on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 using ELISA. One-way ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference among groups (p = 0.000), with the highest BSP secretion observed in treatment group on day 14 (BSP levels 44.29 ± 2.58), followed by treatment group on day 28 (BSP levels 46.19 ± 7.64).  The significantly elevated BSP secretion in the treatment group on day 14 demonstrates osteoinductive characteristics of the CS-HA scaffold, supporting its potential application in bone tissue engineering and regeneration.