Author Spotlight: Insights into the Use of Apple-Derived Cellulose Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

The scope of the research is focused on evaluating the potential of apple-derived cellulose scaffold for bone tissue engineering and assessing their mechanical properties, both in vitro and in vivo. The question addressed include the osteogenic potentials of the scaffold, their ability to support cell invasion, mineralization, and their mechanical performance. The most recent development in the field of research involved the utilization of cellulose-based scaffold derived from various plants for tissue reconstruction.

These scaffolds can be shaped and modified to achieve desired characteristics and functionalization techniques have been employed to enhance their effectiveness. The research gap addressed by this protocol is the limited investigation of the mechanical properties of apple-derived cellulose for bone tissue engineering. While previous studies have explored potential application of the scaffolds, their mechanical characteristics have not been extensively studied.

The present study fills the gap by evaluating the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, highlighting their limitation compared to healthy bone tissue, and emphasizing the need for further development to optimize their performance. The findings of this study contribute to the advancements of research in the field by confirming that cellulose scaffold derived from apples have the potential to promote adhesion, osteoblastic differentiation, and proliferation of pre-osteoblastic cells. Following the study, one can ask questions such as, how can the mechanical properties of cellulose scaffolds that are from plants be optimized to closely match or mimic those of natural bone tissue?

Chemical modifications or composite strategy can be employed to enhance the stiffness and load-bearing capacity of plant-derived cellulose scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.