ABSTRACT
Scaffolds are biocompatible and biodegradable physical substrates for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, designed according to specific mechanical, degradation surface requirements. The optimal design of a scaffold for a specific tissue strongly depends on both materials and manufacturing processes. Polymeric scaffolds reinforced with electro-active particles could play a key role in tissue engineering by modulating cell proliferation and differentiation. This paper investigates the use of an extrusion additive manufacturing system to produce PCL/pristine graphene scaffolds for bone tissue applications. PCL/pristine graphene blends were prepared using a melt blend process. Scaffolds with the same architecture but different contents of pristine graphene were evaluated from a morphological, surface properties (graphene dispersion and hydrophobicity) and biological view (osteoblasts-like cells). Scaffolds with regular and reproducible architecture and a uniform dispersion of pristine graphene flakes were produced. Results show that the addition of pristine graphene improves the biological performance of the scaffolds.
