Enhanced Osteogenesis by Reduced Graphene Oxide/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites

Developers

Jong Ho Lee, Yong Cheol Shin, Sang-Min Lee, Jung Bo Huh, Dong-Wook Han, etc.

Description of the technology

Graphene-based nanomaterials, in the form of two dimensional substrates or three dimensional foams, turned out to be suitable for producting of bioactive scaffolds to promote the differentiation of various stem cells towards specific lineages. However, the potential advantages and detailed biological action mechanisms of graphene-based hybrid composites as factors inducing cellular differentiation as well as tissue regeneration are unclear.

This technology proposes nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) (rGO/HAp NCs) for formation of scaffolds, carrying the cells, which are subjected osteogenesis. 

In process of the technology development, the study has been carried out whether these nanocomposites could enhance the osteogenesis of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts and promote new bone formation. When combined with HAp, rGO synergistically promoted the spontaneous osteodifferentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells without hindering their proliferation. This enhanced osteogenesis was corroborated from determination of alkaline phosphatase activity as early stage markers of osteodifferentiation and mineralization of calcium and phosphate as late stage markers. Immunoblot analysis showed that rGO/HAp NCs increase the expression levels of osteopontin and osteocalcin significantly. Furthermore, rGO/HAp grafts were found to significantly enhance new bone formation in full-thickness calvarial defects without inflammatory responses.

Practical application

These results suggest that rGO/HAp NCs can be exploited to craft a range of strategies for the development of novel dental and orthopedic bone grafts to accelerate bone regeneration because these graphene-based composite materials have potentials to stimulate osteogenesis.

The technology is important stage in creation of the strategies for the development of novel coating agents and fillers for bone and dental implants based on graphene-contained composites, applicable for support of controlled acceleration-required bone regeneration.

Laboratories

• Department of Optics and Mechatronics Engineering, Nano-Integrated Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan (South Korea)
• Department of Prosthodontics, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan (South Korea)

Links

Publications

• Lee, JH. et al. «Enhanced Osteogenesis by Reduced Graphene Oxide/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites» 5 Scientific Reports, (2015): 18833.
• Lee, J. H. et al. «Reduced graphene oxide-coated hydroxyapatite composites stimulate spontaneous osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells." 7 Nanoscale, (2015): 11642–11651.
• Sun, F., Zhou, H. & Lee, J. «Various preparation methods of highly porous hydroxyapatite/polymer nanoscale biocomposites for bone regeneration." 7 Acta Biomater. (2011): 3813–3828.