Electroactive 3D Printed Scaffolds Based on Percolated Composites of Polycaprolactone With Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide for Antibacterial and Tissue Engineering Applications.

Carolina Angulo-Pineda,Patricia Palma,Victor M Fuenzalida,Humberto Palza,Kasama Srirussamee,Sarah H Cartmell

doi:10.3390/nano10030428

Abstract

Applying electrical stimulation (ES) could affect different cellular mechanisms, thereby producing a bactericidal effect and an increase in human cell viability. Despite its relevance, this bioelectric effect has been barely reported in percolated conductive biopolymers. In this context, electroactive polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with conductive Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide (TrGO) nanoparticles were obtained by a 3D printing method. Under direct current (DC) along the percolated scaffolds, a strong antibacterial effect was observed, which completely eradicated S. aureus on the surface of scaffolds. Notably, the same ES regime also produced a four-fold increase in the viability of human mesenchymal stem cells attached to the 3D conductive PCL/TrGO scaffold compared with the pure PCL scaffold. These results have widened the design of novel electroactive composite polymers that could both eliminate the bacteria adhered to the scaffold and increase human cell viability, which have great potential in tissue engineering applications.

Highlights

The electroactive biomaterials are smart systems, which are able to deliver electrical stimulation (ES) to the surrounding media to impart an effect on the behavior of biological systems [1,2]
The advantage of applying an external electrical stimulus lies in its precise control of the magnitude, time, and periodicity of the voltage used, obtaining different effects according to the form of ES applied [16]
Conductive polymeric composite scaffolds based on PCL with Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide (TrGO) filler were successfully 3D prinCteodn, daluloctwivinegpaolsyemlecetriivceceoffmepctoosfitEeSscoanffbooldths bbaacsteedriaolngProCwLthwaitnhdThruGmOafnilcleerllwviearbeilsiutycctoesbsefusltluyd3iDed. pTrhinetepdre, saelnlocwe ionfgTraGsOeleincttihvee PeCffeLcstcoafffoElSdopnarbtioatlhlybdaecctreeraiasledgrboawcttehriaanl dgrhouwmthanwhceelnl cvoiambpilaitryedtowbiteh sptuudrieePdC

Summary

Introduction

The electroactive biomaterials are smart systems, which are able to deliver electrical stimulation (ES) to the surrounding media to impart an effect on the behavior of biological systems [1,2]. It was established that by applying an electric field (EF), cellular behavior can be modified, including the orientation, proliferation, and rate and direction of cell migration of the corneal, epithelial, and vascular cells, among others [15]. In this context, smart electroactive polymers, which are considered a new generation of intelligent materials, have been developed to transfer electrons/ions or to produce changes in charge distribution under a controlled EF, allowing the development of various areas in tissue engineering [6]. The advantage of applying an external electrical stimulus lies in its precise control of the magnitude, time, and periodicity of the voltage used, obtaining different effects according to the form of ES applied [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion