Development of plant-based biopolymer coatings for 3D cell culture: boron–silica-enriched quince seed mucilage nanocomposites†

This study reports the fabrication and characterization of eco-friendly, non-adhesive biomaterial coatings derived from quince seed mucilage (Q) enriched with boron–silica nanocomposite structures. The Q-based biopolymer was functionalized with silanol and borate groups to yield hydrophilic nanocomposite gels suitable for spheroid formation. Mechanical, surface, and biochemical analyses demonstrated that the resulting 3D hydrogels exhibit tunable water absorption, high surface wettability, and strong biocompatibility. When tested with various cell lines (MCF-7, NIH/3T3, and HepG2), the coatings facilitated spontaneous spheroid formation (>200 µm) within 3 days, outperforming conventional agarose and pHEMA surfaces. The results indicate that Q-based nanocomposites provide a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to commercial non-adhesive platforms for 3D cell culture.