Photothermal effect of 3D printed hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds incorporated with graphene nanoplatelets

Abstract

Porous scaffolds with photothermal effect could be used in the treatment of malignant bone tumors. Herein, graphene nanoplatelets were incorporated into the apatite/gelatin composites to construct porous scaffolds by 3D printing. Under near infrared laser irradiation, the composite scaffolds demonstrated high photothermal conversion efficiency. The temperature of scaffolds could be heated to 43 °C by controlling time and power of the laser irradiation, and then cooled to room temperature subsequently. Mild photothermal treatment (40–43 °C) was applied on MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the scaffolds. It was found that after 3 cycles of treatment, the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly accelerated. It was suggested that the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets into 3D printed hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds have the potential to accelerate bone regeneration after photothermal treatment for malignant bone tumors.