2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (12): 1870-1876

Effects of quercetin sustained release system on osteogenic properties of MC3T3-E1 cells

Ma Ziyu1, Zhang Bin2, Zhang Yuntao2, Liu Xiaolin1, Bian Zhihong1, Qiao Luhui3, Hou Yudong4   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Quercetin plays a significant role in promoting osteogenesis, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, lowering blood pressure, and anti-platelet aggregation, but its stability and solubility are poor, which is not conducive to the exertion and application of its efficacy.  
OBJECTIVE: To prepare quercetin sustained-release nanofibers for promoting bone formation and to investigate in vitro release mechanism of quercetin sustained-release nanofibers and its effect on the osteogenic properties of MC3T3-E1 cells.
METHODS: Quercetin, bovine serum albumin, and chitosan were used as materials. The quercetin sustained-release nanofibers coated with chitosan were prepared by improved solvent removal method and electrospinning technology. The quercetin sustained-release nanofibers, polycaprolactone, and polyethylene glycol were utilized as materials. The quercetin sustained-release nanofiber scaffolds were prepared using electrospinning to characterize microscopic morphology, water contact angle, and in vitro drug release of nanofibers. Polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol nanofiber scaffolds and quercetin sustained-release nanofibers were cocultured with MC3T3-E1 cells. The cells cultured alone were taken as blank controls. The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation abilities of the three groups were detected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Transmission electron microscopy showed that quercetin sustained-release nanospheres had smooth surface and uniform diameter. The microspheres could be effectively spun into the electrospinning scaffold. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the quercetin sustained-release nanospheres were regular spheres. The nanofibers were irregularly interwoven into a network structure and formed pores of different sizes without obvious fracture. (2) The contact angle experiment showed that the water contact angle of quercetin sustained-release nanofiber group was significantly smaller than that of polycaprolactone group and polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol group. (3) The drug content released in the first 4 days reached about 30% in the quercetin sustained-release nanofiber group. The drug release time could be maintained for about one month, and the release amount could reach 70% of the drug content. (4) Compared with the blank control group, polycaprolactone/polyethylene glycol nanofibers and quercetin sustained-release nanofibers could promote MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase expression, and calcium deposition. (5) It is concluded that quercetin sustained-release nanofibers have a good controlled drug release effect and can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.
Key words: quercetin, sustained drug release, nanoparticle, polycaprolactone, polyethylene glycol, electrospinning, nanofiber, osteogenic effect