Effects of Graphene Modification on the Bioactivation of Polyethylene-Terephthalate-Based Artificial Ligaments

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate whether surface coating with graphene could enhance the surface bioactivation of PET-based artificial ligaments to accelerate graft-to-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In an in vitro study, the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and their differentiation on the scaffolds were quantified via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. The significantly higher optical-density values and transcription levels of osteoblast-specific genes indicated that graphene modification could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and accelerate their specific differentiation into osteogenic lineages on scaffolds. In an in vivo test, rabbits were used to establish an extra-articular graft-to-bone healing model. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, biomechanical tests, microcomputed tomography analysis, and histological observations were performed. The final results demonstrated that the microstructural parameters, the average mineral apposition rate of the bone, and the biomechanical properties of the graphene-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based artificial ligament (G-PET-AL) group were significantly higher than those of the PET-AL graft group (P < 0.05). The results of Van Gieson staining indicated that in the G-PET-AL group, there was more newly formed bone than there was in the group in which nongraphene-coated PET-ALs were used. In conclusion, graphene exhibits considerable potential for enhancing the surface bioactivation of materials.

In vitro effect of graphene structures as an osteoinductive factor in bone tissue engineering: A systematic review

“…53 The type of the MSCs in fifteen studies 19,32,36,40,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] was not defined. Sixteen studies used preosteoblast cells, 14,[65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79] including mouse osteoblastic cells 14, 65-74, 77-82 (MC3T3-E1) and rat calvarial osteoprogenitors, 75 while the type of the preosteoblast cells in one study 76 was not defined. Five articles 13, 83-86 used osteoblasts.…”

“…The metal or metalloid category consists of silicon (Si), 65 zinc oxide (ZnO), 89 28 and nitinol (NiTi). 57 Polymers include poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), 46 poly(dopamine) (PDA), 68 poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), 14,36,203 poly(ethylenimine) (PEI), 37, 82 poly(lacticcoglycolic acid) (PLGA)-tussah, 61 silk fibroin (SF), 43 polyethylene terephthalate-based artificial ligament group (PET-ALs), 78 47,65,89 and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) 49,71 were employed to measure the release rate of ions, and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) 64 was utilized to assess the Ca/P ratio. Additional assays and measures used for sample characterization include thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), 37,71,82,84,87 energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), 33 75 swelling study, 75 weight loss measurement, 60 diametral tensile strength (DTS), 60 nanoindentation measurements, 67, 76 photoluminescence (PL) spectra, 94 elemental analysis experiment, 25 magnetometry, 25 selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), 57, 91 wettability evaluation, 89 roughness evaluation 14,28,89 and PL spectrum.…”

“…141 In order to overcome these limitations, graphene and its derivatives can be incorporated into polymers through different methods to produce composites exhibiting synergistic effects over the two individual components with improved properties. 34,36,37,46,52,61,63,66,68,70,73,75,78,91 Recently, graphene-polymer composites have been used for orthopedic applications. 142,143 For example, GO in Ct matrix was shown to affect interactions between cells and scaffold leading to improved cell proliferation.…”

“…Two polymers of PET-based artificial ligaments with low known bioactivity 78 and nHAP/PA66 52 were promoted by graphene and showed more osteoability represented by notably up-regulated expression of ALP and OCN compared to polymers alone. This can be attributed to graphene enhancing the adsorption of the growth factors and chemicals containing benzene rings, such as β-glycerophosphate and Dex.…”

“…,38,50,67,73,74 energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS),4,13,34,44,76,80 porosity measurement,4,35,61,75,78 electrical tests,25,35,70 protein adsorption test,20,22,42,43,48,63,68,75,81,91 ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy,49,69 calcium absorption test,70 dynamic light scattering (DLS),18,30,36,66,82 zeta potential (ZP) measurement,18,29,38,40,42,47,66 degradation rate measurement,48,71,75,91 water absorption,…”