2D DNA nanoporous scaffold promotes osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts.

Abstract

Biofunctional materials with nanomechanical parameters similar to bone tissue may promote the adherence, migration, proliferation, and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts. In this study, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanoporous scaffold (DNA-NPS) was synthesized by the polymerization of rectangular and double-crossover (DX) DNA tiles. The diagonally precise polymerization of nanometer-sized DNA tiles (A\u202f+\u202fB) through sticky end cohesion gave rise to a micrometer-sized porous giant-sheet material. The synthesized DNA-NPS exhibited a uniformly distributed porosity with a size of 25\u202f±\u202f20\u202fnm. The morphology, dimensions, sectional profiles, 2-dimensional (2D) layer height, texture, topology, pore size, and mechanical parameters of DNA-NPS have been characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The size and zeta potential of DNA-NPS have been characterized by the zeta sizer. Cell biocompatibility, proliferation, and apoptosis have been evaluated by flow cytometry. The AFM results confirmed that the fabricated DNA-NPS was interconnected and uniformly porous, with a surface roughness of 0.125\u202f±\u202f0.08035\u202fnm. The elastic modulus of the DNA-NPS was 22.45\u202f±\u202f8.65\u202fGPa, which was comparable to that of native bone tissue. DNA-NPS facilitated pre-osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. These findings indicated the potential of 2D DNA-NPS in promoting bone tissue regeneration.