Repair of critical-sized bone defects in rabbit femurs using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials

Abstract

Various biomaterials have been evaluated to enhance bone formation in critical-sized bone defects; however, the ideal scaffold is still missing. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo regenerative capacity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials to stimulate critical-sized bone defect regeneration. The in vitro cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility of g-C3N4 and GO were evaluated, and their potential to induce the in vitro osteogenesis of human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cells was assessed using qPCR. Then, bone defect in femoral condyles was created in rabbits and left empty as control or filled with either g-C3N4 or GO. The osteogenesis of the different implanted scaffolds was evaluated after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of surgery using X-ray, computed tomography (CT), macro/microscopic examinations, and qPCR analysis of osteocalcin (OC) and osteopontin (OP) expressions. Both materials displayed good cell viability and hemocompatibility with enhanced collagen type-I (Col-I), OC, and OP expressions of the hFOB cells. Compared to the control group, the bone healing process in g-C3N4 and GO groups was promoted in vivo. Moreover, complete healing of the bone defect was observed radiologically and grossly in g-C3N4 implanted group. Additionally, g-C3N4 implanted group showed higher percentages of osteoid tissue, mature collagen, biodegradation, and expressions of OC and OP. In conclusion, our results revealed that g-C3N4 and GO nanomaterials could induce osteogenesis in critical-sized bone defects.