Electroactive cardiac patch containing reduced graphene oxide with potential antibacterial properties.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cardiovascular Engineering

Background:

• Graphene-based nanomaterials offer excellent electrical, mechanical, and surface properties for cardiac tissue engineering.
• Collagen scaffolds are widely used but can benefit from enhanced functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) concentration on collagen (Col) scaffolds.
• To evaluate physicochemical, biological, and antibacterial properties of Col-rGO scaffolds for cardiac patch applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of collagen scaffolds coated with varying concentrations of reduced graphene oxide (rGO).
• Assessment of HUVECs viability, cardiac gene expression (Cx43, troponin-T, actinin-4), mechanical properties, and electroactivity.
• Evaluation of antibacterial properties against *Escherichia coli*, *Staphylococcus aureus*, and *Streptococcus pyogenes*.

Main Results:

• Optimized rGO concentration (400 μg/ml) improved HUVECs viability, while higher concentrations decreased it.
• rGO scaffolds upregulated cardiac gene expression related to electrical coupling, muscle contraction, and cytoskeleton alignment.
• Significant improvements in mechanical strength (1100 kPa) and electroactivity (4 × 10⁻⁴ S/m) were observed.
• Col-rGO-400 scaffolds demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against tested pathogens.

Conclusions:

• rGO coating enhances collagen scaffolds' properties for cardiac tissue engineering.
• Col-rGO scaffolds provide a conducive microenvironment for cardiomyocyte function and possess antibacterial capabilities.
• These findings highlight the potential of rGO-coated collagen scaffolds for developing effective cardiac patches.