Evaluating the Role of Na-Montmorillonite Clay in Biomineralization and Stem Cell Osteogenesis in Nanoclay Scaffolds

Montmorillonite (MMT) clay, a natural mineral, plays a crucial role in biomineralization within biopolymer scaffolds, a key process for bone tissue regeneration through osteogenesis. The osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into osteoblasts is driven by extracellular and intracellular signaling pathways. MMT clay can modify membrane proteins like integrins, triggering intracellular signal transduction. This study investigated the clay-integrin (?V?3) interface, revealing non-bonded interactions between Na-MMT and integrin, leading to conformational changes necessary for integrin activation. Steered molecular dynamics simulations showed that clay proximity affects the mechanical stimuli on integrins, regulating biological responses. Experimental results confirmed that Na-MMT clay in biopolymer scaffolds enhanced ?V?3 integrin expression, as well as osteoblast markers and run-related transcription factor 2, promoting osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. This combined computational and experimental approach offers new insights into clay-integrin interactions, enhancing cell adhesion and biomineralization, and improving biomaterial designs for bone regeneration.