Graphene oxide (GO) is thought to have great potential as a component of biomedical devices. Although this nanomaterial has been demonstrated to be cytocompatible in vitro, its compatibility in vivo in tissue sites relevant for biomedical device application is yet to be fully understood. Here, we evaluate the compatibility of GO with two different oxidation levels following implantation in subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tissue sites, which are of broad relevance for application to medical devices. We demonstrate GO to be moderately compatible in vivo in both tissue sites, with the inflammatory reaction in response to implantation consistent with a typical foreign body reaction. Leveraging this information, the Sydlik group has further modified GO using an Arbuzov reaction to install hydroxyapatite-like polyphosphates onto GO (Figure 1a). With this sophisticated control of the surface chemistry, we are able to incorporate specific biomimetic moieties that simultaneously control the physical properties of the material, including stiffness (Figure 1b) and degradation rate, as well as the biological response (Figure 1c) through the incorporation of signaling molecules. To further enhance the compatibility and integration, we have are developing a modified methyl methacrylate bone cement that encourages cell recruitment and osteogenesis at the critical tissue-scaffold interface. This material offers unprecedented control of the mechanical and biological properties of a scaffold material and here we present our efforts towards developing it as a scaffold for bone regeneration.

Osteomimetic graphene composite scaffolds for bone regeneration

251st National Meeting (2016)

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