Exploring the bioactivity of reduced graphene oxide and TiO₂ nanocomposite for the regenerative medicinal...

Millions of people globally suffer from issues related to chronic wounds due to infection, burn, obesity, and diabetes. Nanocomposite with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties is a promising material to promote wound healing. This investigation primarily aims to synthesize reduced graphene oxide and titanium dioxide (rGO@TiO₂) nanocomposite for wound healing applications. The rGO@TiO₂ nanocomposite was synthesized by the one-step hydrothermal technique, and the physicochemical characterization of synthesized nanocomposite was performed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Further, the nanocomposite antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and wound-healing properties were analyzed by disc diffusion method, MTT assay, and in vitro scratch assay, respectively. Based on the TEM images, the average particle size of TiO₂ nanoparticles was around 9.26 ± 1.83 nm. The characteristics peak of Ti-O-Ti bonds was observed between 500 and 850 cm^-1 in the Fourier transforms infrared spectrum. The Raman spectrum of graphene oxide (GO) was obtained for bands D and G at 1354 cm^-1 and at 1593 cm^-1, respectively. This GO peak intensity was reduced in rGO, revealing the oxygen functional group reduction. Moreover, the rGO@TiO₂ nanocomposite exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial properties against the positive and negative bacterium. The cytotoxicity for 5-100 µg/mL of rGO@TiO₂ nanocomposite was above the half-maximal inhibitory concentration value. The in vitro scratch assay for rGO@TiO₂ indicates that the nanocomposite promotes cell proliferation and migration. The nanocomposite recovered the wound within 48 h. The rGO@TiO₂ nanocomposite shows potential materials for wound healing applications.