Friedelin Enhances Gelatin/Nanohydroxyapatite Scaffold Performance by Inhibiting Osteoclastogenesis and Promoting Osteogenesis

Friedelin is a naturally occurring compound known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties, positioning it as a potential candidate for the development of advanced biomaterials in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we first investigated the biological effects of friedelin (FD) on osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand)-induced osteoclast differentiation, as well as its protective role in osteoblast function under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, composite scaffolds composed of gelatin/friedelin (Gel/FD) and gelatin/nanohydroxyapatite/friedelin (Gel/HA/FD) were fabricated via the freeze-drying. These scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology, chemical composition, swelling behavior, porosity, degradation rate, rheological properties, and biocompatibility. To evaluate their osteogenic potential, Saos-2 cells were cultured on the scaffolds, and markers of osteogenic differentiation were assessed through mRNA expression analysis and calcium deposition assays. Overall, the findings suggest that friedelin is a promising bioactive molecule for the design of functional biomaterials intended for bone regeneration applications.