A Zinc Oxide Nanowire‐Modified Mineralized Collagen Scaffold Promotes Infectious Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Bone infection poses a major clinical challenge that can hinder patient recovery and exacerbate postoperative complications. This study has developed a bioactive composite scaffold through the co‐assembly and intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen fibrils and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (IMC/ZnO). The IMC/ZnO exhibits bone‐like hierarchical structures and enhances capabilities for osteogenesis, antibacterial activity, and bacteria‐infected bone healing. During co‐cultivation with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), the IMC/ZnO improves BMMSC adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation even under inflammatory conditions. Moreover, it suppresses the activity of Gram‐negative Porphyromonas gingivalis and Gram‐positive Streptococcus mutans by releasing zinc ions within the acidic infectious microenvironment. In vivo, the IMC/ZnO enables near‐complete healing of infected bone defects within the intricate oral bacterial milieu, which is attributed to IMC/ZnO orchestrating M2 macrophage polarization, and fostering an osteogenic and anti‐inflammatory microenvironment. Overall, these findings demonstrate the promise of the bioactive scaffold IMC/ZnO for treating bacteria‐infected bone defects.