Abstract
The bone-tissue engineering (BTE) field is continuously growing due to a major need for bone substitutes in cases of serious traumas, when the bone tissue has reduced capacity for self-regeneration. So far, graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced natural materials provide satisfactory results for BTE, for both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility of a new biocomposite consisting of chitosan and fish gelatin crosslinked with genipin and loaded with various concentrations of GO (0.5, 1, 2, 3 wt.%) for prospective BTE applications. Scaffold characterizations revealed a constant swelling degree and good resistance to enzyme degradation. The composites presented a porous structure with pores of similar size, thus mimicking the bone structure. In vitro biocompatibility assays demonstrated an overall beneficial interaction between preosteoblasts, and these particular composites, particularly with 0.5 wt.% GO, reinforced composition. Next, the materials were implanted subcutaneously in 6-week old CD1 mice for in vivo evaluation of biocompatibility and inflammatory activity. Immunohistochemical staining revealed maximal cell infiltration and minimal inflammatory reaction for fish gelatin/chitosan/genipin with 0.5 wt.% GO scaffold, thus demonstrating the best biocompatibility for this particular composition, confirming the in vitro results. This study revealed the potential use of fish gelatin/chitosan GO composites for further implementation in the BTE field.
Highlights
Traumatizing skeletal anatomy—the hard, mineralized, interconnected tissue which facilitates locomotion, with crucial functions in the body [1]—severely alters the patient’s quality of life
We aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility of a new biocomposite consisting of chitosan and fish gelatin crosslinked with genipin and loaded with various concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) (0.5, 1, 2, 3 wt.%) for prospective bone-tissue engineering (BTE) applications
This study revealed the potential use of fish gelatin/chitosan GO composites for further implementation in the BTE field
Summary
Traumatizing skeletal anatomy—the hard, mineralized, interconnected tissue which facilitates locomotion, with crucial functions in the body (protection of vital organs as well as calcium and phosphorus levels regulation) [1]—severely alters the patient’s quality of life. Bone tissue has the ability to self-regenerate after minor injuries or small fractures. From the moment of the trauma, the process of healing consists of five stages and lasts from two months to two years, depending on the seriousness of the injury [2]. If the lesions in the bone are major, the tissue will not have the capacity to heal on its own. These kind of surgical interventions are very meticulous, and the donor can suffer from morbidity at the sampling site. The field of bone-tissue engineering (BTE) seems to hold great promise in reducing patient discomfort and surgical risks, as well as minimizing costs. BTE is epitomized by three commanding features: (1) a scaffold that mimics the structure of bone extracellular matrix (bECM); (2) a cell source that can follow the bone lineage, and (3) growth factors to support cell growth and development [3], which often prove to be delicate in addressing altogether
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