Mimosa pudica -derived zinc oxide nanoparticles preserve mesenchymal stromal cell viability, morphology, and osteogenic competence
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Introduction
Musculoskeletal disorders remain a major cause of disability worldwide and require non invasive regenerative strategies that support tissue repair. Green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have attracted interest because of their biocompatibility and biological activity. This study investigated the synthesis of Mimosa pudica -derived ZnONPs (ZnO MP ) and evaluated their effects on human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs).
Methodology
ZnO MP were synthesized using an aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica leaves and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, SEM, EDS, and TEM. BM-MSCs isolated from human bone marrow were exposed to ZnO MP , plant extract, and synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. Cell metabolic activity was assessed by MTT assay after 1, 3, and 5 days. Cytoskeletal and nuclear morphology were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and CellProfiler-based morphometry. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated after 21 days using Alizarin Red S staining and quantification.
Results
Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses confirmed the successful formation of phytochemical-capped ZnO MP nanoparticles with nanoscale dimensions and specific elemental composition. ZnO MP maintained significantly higher metabolic activity than Mimosa pudica extract or ZnO at both 150 and 300 μg/mL. Morphometric profiling revealed that Mimosa pudica extract induced the most pronounced changes in nuclear morphology, reflecting enhanced nuclear plasticity and substantial remodeling of nuclear architecture, whereas ZnO MP preserved cellular and nuclear features closer to untreated controls. During osteogenic induction, ZnO MP did not impair matrix mineralization and preserved the ability of BM-MSCs to form a mineralized extracellular matrix.
Conclusion
Mimosa pudica -mediated ZnO nanoparticles combine favorable biocompatibility with preservation of mesenchymal stem cell morphology and osteogenic competence. These findings support their potential use as bioactive nanomaterials for musculoskeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
