The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field aimed at developing biomimetic scaffolds that support bone regeneration by mimicking the structure, composition, and mechanical properties of native bone. Among various approaches, the use of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models and biocompatible scaffolds has gained substantial attention due to their ability to provide physiologically relevant environments for osteogenesis. In this study, we investigate the effect of hydroxyapatite (HAp)-reinforced gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels on osteogenic differentiation in SAOS-2 cell spheroids. Our results indicate that the incorporation of HAp into GelMA scaffolds significantly enhances osteogenic potential through improved mineralization, cell-cell communication, and osteogenic marker expression. This study contributes to the growing body of research focused on engineering advanced scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.