Biomimetic calcium phosphate mineralized graphene oxide/chitosan (GO/CS) scaffolds with hierarchical structures were developed. First, GO/CS scaffolds with large micropores (∼300 μm) showed high mechanical strength due to the electrostatic interaction between the oxygen-containing functional groups of GO and the amine groups of CS. Second, octacalcuim phosphate (OCP) with porous structures (∼1 μm) was biomimetically mineralized on the surfaces of the GO/CS scaffolds (OCP-GO/CS). The hierarchical microporous structures of OCP-GO/CS scaffolds provide a suitable environment for cell adhesion and growth. The scaffolds have exceptional adsorbability of nanoparticles. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-encapsulated bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles and Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were adsorbed in the scaffolds for enhancement of osteoinductivity and antibacterial properties, respectively. Antibacterial tests showed that the scaffolds exhibited high antibacterial properties against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that the scaffolds have good biocompatibility, enhanced bone marrow stromal cells proliferation and differentiation, and induced bone tissue regeneration. Thus, the biomimetic OCP-GO/CS scaffolds with immobilized growth factors and antibacterial agents might be excellent candidates for bone tissue engineering.
Keywords: adsorbability; antibacterial property; biomimetic scaffold; graphene oxide; hierarchical structure; osteoinductivity.