Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials in biomedical applications. Among cellulose-derived materials, nanocellulose has attracted increasing attention due to its favourable biocompatibility, versatility, and compatibility with advanced fabrication techniques such as electrospinning, 3D printing, and freeze-drying. In this study, Polystyrene/nanocellulose composite membranes fabricated via electrospinning were produced and systematically characterized, and their cytocompatibility was comparatively evaluated against solvent-cast nanocellulose membranes and standard tissue culture plates. Comprehensive morphological and physicochemical analyses were performed, followed by cytocompatibility evaluations using primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Cell viability, proliferation, inflammatory response, and qualitative endothelial layer formation were evaluated over a 21-day culture period. HUVEC proliferation and viability on electrospun membranes were comparable to those observed on solvent-cast nanocellulose membranes and standard tissue culture plates (TCP) after 21days. All membrane formulations exhibited a reduction in reactive oxygen species over time, while electrospun membranes demonstrated a more homogenous cytokine expression profile (IL-6, IL-23, IFN-α2, and TNF-α) during long-term culture. However, qualitative assessment of endothelial layer formation indicated a delayed development of a mature endothelial monolayer on electrospun membranes compared with solvent cast membranes and tissue culture controls. Overall, these findings demonstrate the cytocompatibility of electrospun nanocellulose composite membranes and highlight how differences in fabrication strategy and resulting membrane characteristics influence endothelial cell responses. This study provides a comparative and exploratory evaluation of nanocellulose composite membrane systems, supporting their further consideration as sustainable biomaterial for vascular-related biomedical research.

The acetabular labrum is a fibrocartilaginous ring that surrounds the acetabular rim, anchoring to bone and ensuring hip joint stability and sealing. It is mainly composed of fibrochondrocytes and type I collagen fibers, providing resistance to mechanical stress during daily activities. Femoroacetabular impingement can compromise these properties, leading to labral degeneration, hip pain, reduced quality of life, and early osteoarthritis. To address this, biomaterials that mimic the native labral and support regeneration are under investigation. This study developed composite hydrogels combining, for the first time, Bombyx mori-derived silk fibroin methacrylate (SilMA) and wool-derived keratin microfibers (KI) to create a bioartificial labrum prototype. Two KI concentrations (12.5% and 25% w/w), mixed with SilMA, were tested and compared to SilMA alone. KI powder was dispersed into SilMA, and ultraviolet (UV) exposure time was optimized for hydrogel crosslinking. Morphological and mechanical characterization of the hydrogels was performed, along with the evaluation of cell biocompatibility and cell behavior with human chondrocytes (C28/I2) using a lactate dehydrogenase assay, transmission electron microscopy, and histology. Increasing KI concentration enhanced viscosity, shear stiffness, and elastic modulus under dry and wet conditions. Biocompatibility assays confirmed cell viability up to 14days. Overall, SilMA-KI hydrogels demonstrated favorable mechanical performance and cytocompatibility, highlighting their potential as scaffolds for acetabular labrum regeneration.