Alginate Scaffold Containing Triamcinolone Sustained Release Microsphere, Melatonin and Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration and Inflammation Publisher



Lalani AR¹ ; Esfandyarimanesh M² ; Shams N¹ ; Atyabi F^{1, 2} ; Dinarvand R^{1, 2} Show Affiliations
Source: BioNanoScience Published:2025

Abstract

Cartilage self-repair capacity is limited, which makes it difficult to treat the damage. Tissue engineering has been developing toward cartilage repair via delivering cells and medications. Herein, triamcinolone microspheres were used within alginate scaffolds enriched with tricalcium phosphate (TCP), collagen, and melatonin. The particle size of the prepared triamcinolone microspheres ranged from 25 to 90 µm, and the system showed a sustained release behavior. The scaffold released 54.8% of triamcinolone in 28 days compared to the triamcinolone microspheres outside the scaffold; this sustained release behavior is ideal for cartilage repair. The swelling, mechanical strength, and cytotoxicity properties of the scaffold were tested. The alginate scaffold was safe for cartilage cells. The expression of SOX9, COL2A1, and ACAN on the modified scaffold containing melatonin was 1.8, 1.9, and 1.5 times higher than the modified scaffold without melatonin. The observed upregulation of gene expression suggests a potential therapeutic avenue for cartilage diseases. This finding underscores the potential efficacy of the scaffold in addressing cartilage-related conditions and facilitating regeneration within affected tissues. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.