Efficient mineralization and osteogenic gene overexpression of mesenchymal stem cells on decellularized spinach leaf scaffold.

Until now, various methods have been introduced to fabricate 3D scaffolds to provide a suitable substrate for cell growth and proliferation and subsequent use in tissue engineering to repair damaged tissues. The 3D scaffolds can simulate the natural cellular microenvironment well. Herein, the decellularized leaf spinach has been used which not only have no problems associated with artificial scaffolds, but they also do not cost significantly. Decellularized scaffolds surface properties were characterized by the investigation of scaffolds surface roughness, hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, size and shape of porosities and specific surface area. In the next step, osteogenic differentiation potential of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells cultured on the scaffold and culture plate (as a control) was evaluated using alizarin staining and calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity and bone related genes expression assays. The results indicated that the surface properties and shape of scaffold pores were effective in the stem cells binding, growth and proliferation. This higher biocompatibility due to the ideal surface hydrophilicity as well as high specific surface area due to the presence of a rough grid surface ultimately increased the efficiency of stem cell's bone differentiation. Taken together, it can be concluded that the decellularized spinach leaf scaffold, due to its easy availability, low prices and high efficiency, can be considered as a promising potential candidate for use as a proper substrate for stem cell growth and differentiation in bone tissue engineering.