Quercetin-loaded PCL scaffold suppresses bone metastatic tumors and augments in situ bone formation.

Authors

Lei Yang, Dan Zhang, Xiaoyan Xie, Rui Qiu, Xiaohui Yue, Min Wu, Chengjie Ji, Jingjing Zhong

Published in

BMC biotechnology. Jul 13, 2026. Epub Jul 13, 2026.

Abstract

This study developed a dual-functional 3D-printed poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold loaded with quercetin (Q-PCL) for synergistic inhibition of bone metastatic tumors and promotion of bone regeneration. The scaffold was fabricated via melt extrusion, exhibiting a uniform porous structure conducive to sustained quercetin release. In vitro, Q-PCL significantly suppressed renal carcinoma (RENCA) cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, while enhancing the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In a murine subcutaneous tumor model, Q-PCL implantation effectively inhibited tumor growth via apoptosis induction without systemic toxicity. In a rat femoral defect model, the scaffold markedly accelerated bone repair, showing increased bone volume, improved trabecular morphology, and mature bone formation. The Q-PCL scaffold demonstrates great potential as a localized co-therapy strategy for treating osteolytic bone metastases and facilitating bone regeneration.

PMID:
42443888
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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