Abstract
Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is commonly performed to treat chronic rhinosinusitis and selected sinonasal tumors, yet postoperative complications such as neo-osteogenesis and restenosis remain frequent, largely due to impaired mucosal regeneration after extensive epithelial and bony tissue loss. Successful nasal epithelial repair requires a microenvironment that preserves cell viability, phenotype, and barrier integrity. Conventional culture substrates often lack physiological relevance or rely on animal-derived components, limiting translational applicability. In this study, we evaluated nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) hydrogel (GrowDex(®)) as a xeno-free scaffold for primary human nasal epithelial cells (NECs). NECs isolated from healthy donor tissue were characterized by immunofluorescence and qPCR for basal, goblet, and ciliated cell markers. Cells embedded in NFC were assessed for viability, cytotoxicity, epithelial morphology, and barrier function. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran permeability assays were used to quantify barrier integrity and compared with collagen- and polylysine-based controls. NECs cultured in NFC maintained high viability, stable epithelial morphology, and preserved subtype-specific marker expression without detectable cytotoxicity. NFC-supported cultures demonstrated enhanced barrier formation, indicated by higher TEER values and reduced paracellular permeability relative to controls, and sustained structural integrity during extended culture. These findings identify NFC hydrogel as a biocompatible, non-animal scaffold that supports functional human nasal epithelium regeneration and may contribute to advanced tissue engineering strategies for craniofacial bone repair.