Alternate layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide nanosheets and fibrinogen nanofibers on a silicon substrate for a biomimetic three-dimensional hydroxyapatite scaffold

Abstract

Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly is a simple and effective method for the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold for nanotechnological and biomedical applications. Herein, a novel 3D scaffold based on an alternate LBL assembly of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and fibrinogen nanofibers (Fg NFs) on a silicon substrate was fabricated and utilized to create a 3D hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold by biomimetic mineralization in 1.5× simulated body fluid for different nucleation periods. The obtained 3D (GO–NF)_n–HA scaffold was characterized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the Fg NFs could promote the nucleation and growth of HA crystals along the axis. The 3D (GO–NF)₁₀–HA scaffold composed of 10 layers of GO alternating with 10 layers of NFs was successfully created by LBL assembly and subsequent biomimetic mineralization. The effects of the created 3D (GO–NF)₁₀–HA scaffolds on the adhesion, morphology, and proliferation of L-929 cells were investigated. The in vitro cell culture indicates that the 3D (GO–NF)₁₀–HA scaffold has a higher proliferation ability and better cytocompatibility than the other control samples.