Osteoinductive potential of graphene and graphene oxide for bone tissue engineering: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Critical-size bone defects present significant clinical challenges.
• Osteoinductive scaffolds are crucial for bone tissue engineering.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds offer favorable properties for bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of graphene and graphene oxide surface modifications on PCL scaffolds for bone regeneration.
• To compare the effects of graphene oxide (GO) versus graphene (GP) on PCL scaffold properties and osteogenic differentiation.

Main Methods:

• Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning.
• Scaffold surfaces were modified via layer-by-layer deposition with either graphene or graphene oxide.
• In vitro studies assessed cell compatibility and osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Main Results:

• Graphene oxide-coated PCL (PCL-GO) scaffolds exhibited improved fiber diameter, wettability, and mechanical properties (yield and tensile strength) compared to graphene-coated PCL (PCL-GP) scaffolds.
• PCL-GP scaffolds showed higher surface roughness than PCL-GO scaffolds.
• Both PCL-GO and PCL-GP scaffolds were cell-compatible.
• PCL-GO scaffolds demonstrated a trend towards enhanced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells without differentiation media.

Conclusions:

• Graphene oxide shows potential for enhanced mineralization and osteogenic differentiation in PCL scaffolds, although not statistically significant.
• Both graphene and graphene oxide hold promise for bone regeneration and tissue engineering.
• Further in vivo studies and clinical trials are necessary to validate the clinical application of these modified scaffolds.