Direct Write Assembly of Graphene/Poly(epsilon-Caprolactone) Composite Scaffolds and Evaluation of Their Biological Performance Using Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Scaffold and mesenchymal stem cell-based cartilage tissue engineering offers a favorable way for the repair and regeneration of injured cartilage. In this study, poly (epsilon-caprolactone) PCL scaffolds with grid-like structure having periodic lattice was manufactured by robocasting method in the presence of graphene nanoplatelets for cartilage tissue engineering applications. For this purpose, a PCL solution (20wt%) containing pristine graphene nanopowders in the form of platelets was prepared as printing ink and it was dispensed through a nozzle at room temperature to an ethanol bath at 4 degrees C. The construction of porous scaffolds was made by a layer-by-layer assembly. Results revealed that graphene additions were not detrimental to deposition process and the structure of the resultant scaffolds. In vitro cell tests indicated that the prepared grid-like graphene/PCL composite scaffolds have good cytocompatibility and non-toxicity for mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The stem cells attached and proliferated well on the scaffolds and they also demonstrated a chondrogenic differentiation in the absence of transforming growth factors.