Effect of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) compaction degree and concentration on rGO–polymer composite printability and cell interactions
María Cámara-Torres, Ravi Sinha, Siamak Eqtesadi, Rune Wendelbo, Marco Scatto, Paolo Scopece, Alberto Sánchez, Sara Villanueva, Ainhoa Egizabal, Noelia Álvarez, Alessandro Patelli, Carlos Mota, Lorenzo Moroni
Abstract
), rGO densified in water was more compacted and offered poorer dispersability within the polymer than rGO densified in acetone, and resulted in scaffolds with poor layer bonding or even lack of printability at high rGO percentages. A balance in printability and electrical properties was obtained for composites with medium bulk density achieved with rGO densified in acetone. Here, increasing rGO concentration led to more hydrophilic composites with a noticeable increase in protein adsorption. Moreover, scaffolds prepared with such composites presented antimicrobial properties even at low rGO contents (3 wt%). In addition, the viability and proliferation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) were maintained on scaffolds with up to 15% rGO and with enhanced osteogenic differentiation on 3% rGO scaffolds.