Bioglass content determines the physicochemical mechanical and biological performance of chitosan gelatin reduced...

Three-dimensional scaffolds are critical for supporting cell growth and tissue regeneration. This study developed chitosan/gelatin-reduced graphene oxide (CH/GEL-rfGO) scaffolds with varying amounts of Bioglass (BG58S) and evaluated the influence of BG58S content on scaffold performance. Incorporation of BG58S was confirmed by FTIR and XRD, which showed clear shifts in characteristic peaks. Increasing BG58S marked improved scaffold wettability, lowering the contact angle from 35° to 20°, thereby creating a more hydrophilic surface favorable for cell interactions. FESEM revealed highly porous, interconnected structures with pore sizes of 300-500 μm. Porosity increased sharply to 90.6% at 0.8 g BG58S but slightly decreased with higher loading, while pore wall thickness and density rose steadily, suggesting stronger structural stability. Mechanical testing demonstrated dramatic reinforcement: yield strength improved more than twelvefold (1240%) and elastic modulus by over fourfold (428%), indicating that BG58S acted as an effective strengthening phase. These improvements are critical for meeting the mechanical demands of bone tissue scaffolds. BG58S incorporation significantly enhanced stability in PBS and SBF by reducing mass loss, controlling swelling, and a mild transient increase in pH. The 1.2 wt% BG58S scaffold exhibited the most favorable balance between structural stability, controlled degradation, and sustained release of bioactive Si and Ca ions. All scaffolds remained cytocompatible toward MC3T3-E1 cells, with metabolic activity exceeding the 70% viability threshold. Cell responses in BG58S-containing scaffolds improved over time, consistent with the stabilization of ion release and pH. Overall, the 1.2 wt% BG58S formulation demonstrated the best combination of physicochemical performance and biological response, highlighting its potential for bone tissue engineering applications.