Carbon nanoparticles-based hydrogel nanocomposite induces bone repair in vivo

The main objective of the current study is to fabricate a 3D scaffold using alginate hydrogel implemented with carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as the filler. The SEM imaging revealed that the scaffold possesses a porous internal structure with interconnected pores. The swelling value of the scaffolds (more than 400%) provides a wet niche for bone cell proliferation and migration. The in vitro evaluations showed that the scaffolds were hemocompatible (with hemolysis induction lower than 5%) and cytocompatible (inducing significant proliferative effect (cell viability of 121 & PLUSMN; 4%, p < 0.05) for AlG/CNPs 10%). The in vivo studies showed that the implantation of the fabricated 3D nanocomposite scaffolds induced a bone-forming effect and mediated bone formation into the induced bone defect. In conclusion, these results implied that the fabricated NFC-integrated 3D scaffold exhibited promising characteristics beneficial for bone regeneration and can be applied as the bone tissue engineering scaffold.

Automated summary

The objective of this study is to fabricate a 3D scaffold using alginate hydrogel incorporated with carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as the filler. SEM imaging showed the scaffold has a porous internal structure with interconnected pores. The swelling value of the scaffolds provides a wet niche for bone cell proliferation and migration. In vitro evaluations demonstrated that the scaffolds are hemocompatible and cytocompatible, and in vivo studies showed that the implantation of the 3D nanocomposite scaffolds induced bone formation.