Porous chitosan derivative scaffolds affect proliferation and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cell via reducing intracellular ROS.

The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) needed to be promoted for their use in stem cell-based therapy for large bone defects. This study aimed to prepare porous 2a-2 g scaffolds with antioxidant activity to reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which resulted in promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. A series of novel chemically modified 2a-2 g scaffolds were fabricated by an acid-soluble/alkali-insoluble method. Besides, these 2a-2 g scaffolds had good biocompatibility, physicochemical properties and the ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). However, the proliferation ability of hADSCs on 2a-2f scaffolds was weakened. Interestingly, 2 g scaffold had a positive effect on hADSCs proliferation. These results indicated that the reduction of intracellular ROS was not conducive to hADSCs proliferation but beneficial to hADSCs osteogenic differentiation. Taken together, these significant results highlighted potential therapeutic benefit of 2 g scaffold in large bone defects.