AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/IJB025190188
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Early Access

A 3D bioprinted alginate-MgP scaffold for superior regeneration  of calvarial bone defects in a rat model

Shaimaa ElShebiney1 Sara A. M. El-Sayed2 Mduduzi N. Sithole3 Mashudu T. Mphaphuli3 Hanan H. Beherei2 Pradeep Kumar3 Mostafa Mabrouk2* Yahya E. Choonara3*
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1 Narcotics, Ergogenics, and Poisons Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre (NRC), Giza, Egypt
2 Refractories, Ceramics and Building Materials Department, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St., Dokki, PO Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
3 Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
Received: 9 May 2025 | Accepted: 2 July 2025 | Published online: 2 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Bioprinting for Tissue/Organ Engineering)
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

While autologous transplants are the traditional standard intervention for non-healing bone defect regeneration, it carries many risks and limitations. Regenerative composite biomaterials are promising alternatives to conventional autograft and allograft implants. This research study seeks to overcome these challenges by creating a biodegradable novel 3D biomaterial scaffold that mimics native bone's structural and physiological properties. Scaffolds composed of magnesium phosphate (MgP) doped with copper oxide (CuO) in proportions (3, 5, or 7 %w/w) that were homogenously distributed in alginate (Alg) polymer matrix for the repair of calvarial bone defects in a rat model. The scaffolds were fabricated using a 3D bioprinting technique, and their physical properties were characterized through XRD, FTIR, and mechanical strength assessments. The bioactivity of the scaffolds was evaluated in vitro for biomineralization and cytotoxicity, revealing high biomineralization and cell viability. Female rats were used for the in vivo experiment; the defects were examined microscopically, histologically, CT imaging, and osteocalcin alongside procollagen PIIINP in serum. The in vivo study demonstrates high efficacy in promoting bone regeneration, and the results confirmed enhanced healing in the calvarial defect model. The incorporation of CuO not only improved the mechanical properties but also exhibited angiogenic effects, fostering an environment conducive to bone healing. Our results showed that the Alg-MgP-CuO scaffolds have great promise for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications and repair, especially at the 7 wt% doping level.

Keywords
3D bioprinting
Magnesium phosphate
Alginate
Copper oxide doping
Bone regeneration
Funding
This research was funded by the project "Composite Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting and Their Application in Bone Tissue Engineering" supported by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) in Egypt. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa under the SARChI Chair program (Grant No. PPNT230823145247), awarded to Prof. Yahya Choonara.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing