Systematically engineered GO with magnetic CuFe2O4 to enhance bone regeneration on 3D printed PCL scaffold

Abstract

Composition and processing can profoundly influence the physicomechanical features and cellular function of tissue-engineered scaffolds to regenerate new bone tissue. Here, we developed 3D printed scaffolds containing GO sheets decorated with magnetic CuFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs). Field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) images depict the formation of high density CuFe2O4 NPs (22 ± 3 nm) uniformly distributed on the surface of GO sheets. Moreover, FESEM images taken from the surface of scaffolds confirm a highly regular structure and desirable printability of the composite material. The incorporation of 8 wt.% GO@CuFe2O4 assist to fabricate PCL-based scaffold with greater mechanical strength (71 ± 0.5 MPa), higher electrical conductivity (2 × 10−8 S/m) and saturation magnetization (1.6 emu/g) as well as better hydrophilicity (74°± 2.4°) than PCL/GO scaffold. Such improvement in physicomechanical properties of the prepared scaffold accelerates pre-osteoblast proliferation, spreading, alkaline phosphatase activity as well as calcium deposition on the scaffold surface and thus, it is an intriguing candidate for useful reconstruction of injured bone tissue.