Preparation of antibacterial Gel/PCL nanofibers reinforced by dicalcium phosphate-modified graphene oxide with control release of clindamycin for possible application in bone tissue engineering

In this work, blend nanofibrous scaffolds were electrospun from polycaprolactone /gelatin (Gel/PCL) blend solutions reinforced by dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD)-modified graphene oxide (GO). DCPD was immobilized on the poly(α-amino acid)-modified graphene oxide via ionic interactions, then incorporated into the PCL framework. Also, clindamycin as an antibiotic drug was added to the resulting scaffold nanofiber. The homogenous nanofibers were prepared with 250 nm average diameter co-electrospun of Gel/ PCL blend solutions. Tensile strength test and contact angle measurements demonstrated that the addition of PCL and GO led to higher mechanical and physical properties of the resulting scaffolds. The loading of DCPD-modified graphene in the Gel/PCL structure caused the formation of nanofibrous substrate with suitable physical properties and biocompatibility. Slow and controlled released was observed for DCPD as well as clindamycin from the nanofiber. Gel/PCL-G hybrid nanofibers demonstrated good biocompatibility towards human osteosarcoma cells, and showed no cellular toxicity. The cells grown on the scaffolds exhibited a homogenous morphology and almost uniformly covered the entire fiber. The fabricated nanofibers due to smooth and nanofibrous morphology, good cellular behavior and higher hydrophilicity could be a good candidate for use in bone tissue engineering.