Biofunctionalized 3D-printed gelatin-alginate scaffolds with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides for enhanced in vitro osteogenesis

Background/purpose: Alveolar bone defects are difficult to treat due to ongoing resorption and limitations of conventional grafts. Tissue engineering strategies, particularly 3D hydrogel-based scaffolds, offer promising alternatives by mimicking the extracellular matrix and supporting cell-driven regeneration. This study aimed to incorporating arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides into 3D-printed gelatin-alginate hydrogels to enhances their bioactivity and osteogenic potential for effective alveolar bone repair. Materials and methods: through cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation (proven by alkaline phosphatase activity), and mineralization (proven by Alizarin red S staining) using MG-63 osteoblastic-like cells. Results: RGD peptides-grafted 3D-printed gelatin-alginate scaffolds exhibited a porous architecture. Elemental and FTIR analyses confirmed successful peptide incorporation through elevated nitrogen and oxygen content, along with amide and C-H stretching bands. The scaffolds showed stable swelling, reduced degradation, and significantly enhanced MG-63 cell adhesion, proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralization, particularly in the 0.5 mg/mL RGD peptides-grafted group. Conclusion: RGD peptides modification significantly enhances the structural and biological performance of 3D gelatin-alginate scaffolds, reinforcing their potential as effective materials for alveolar bone regeneration.