Harnessing 3D printed highly porous Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds coated with graphene oxide to promote osteogenesis

Abstract

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) strategies have been developed to address challenges in orthopedic and dental therapy by expediting osseointegration and new bone formation. In this study, we developed irregular porous Ti–6Al–4V scaffolds coated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), specifically rGO-pTi, and investigated their ability to stimulate osseointegration in vivo. The rGO-pTi scaffolds exhibited unique irregular micropores and high hydrophilicity, facilitating protein adsorption and cell growth. In vitro assays revealed that the rGO-pTi scaffolds increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization nodule formation, and osteogenic gene upregulation in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts. Moreover, in vivo transplantation of rGO-pTi scaffolds in rabbit calvarial bone defects showed improved bone matrix formation and osseointegration without hemorrhage. These findings highlight the potential of combining rGO with irregular micropores as a promising BTE scaffold for bone regeneration.