Nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) targets the AMPK-ULK1 pathway to promote bone regeneration

• nZnO promotes osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration by activating autophagy via the AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway. • The combination of nZnO and mesenchymal stem cells in GelMA scaffolds significantly enhances bone repair in calvarial defect models. • Inhibition of AMPK with Compound C reverses nZnO-induced autophagy and osteogenic effects, confirming pathway specificity. • These findings propose nZnO as a promising therapeutic agent for bone defect repair, offering a novel strategy in bone tissue engineering.