Cytocompatible scaffolds of poly(L-lactide)/reduced graphene oxide for tissue engineering

Abstract

Poly(L-lactide)/reduced graphene oxide (PLLA/rGO) scaffolds were studied in the present work. The scaffolds were fabricated by TIPS (thermally induced phase separation). Nonisothermal crystallization study for PLLA/rGO was investigated and revealed the nucleating effect of rGO. rGO effect on cytotoxicity, thermal properties, and hydrolysis resistance of PLLA and PLLA/rGO scaffolds were analysed. In vitro degradation in phosphate-buffered solution at 37 °C is analyzed over twelve weeks. A high crystalline behaviour reduces the speed of hydrolysis and therefore implies less variation in pH, mass loss and water up take. The rGO does not seem to accelerate the degradation process. Finally, rGO contents in PLLA up to 1 wt% dos not lead to cytotoxic effect, the scaffolds supporting cell adhesion and proliferation.

Keywords:

• PLLA
• rGO
• hydrolysis
• cytocompatible
• bone regeneration

Acknowledgements

Technical and human support provided by SGIker (UP V/EHU, MICINN, GV/EJ, ERDF, and ESF) is gratefully appreciated. Work supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT): projects UID/FIS/04650/2020, PTDC/EMD-EMD/28159/2017 and PTDC/BTM-MAT/28237/2017. Financial support from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) through the project PID2019-106099RB-C43/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and from the Basque Government Industry and Education Departments under the ELKARTEK and PIBA (PIBA-2018-06) programs, respectively, are also acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.