title: Effects of graphene modification on the bioactivation of polyethylene-terephthalate-based artificial ligaments.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate whether surface coating with graphene could enhance the surface bioactivation of PET-based artificial ligaments to accelerate graft-to-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In an in vitro study, the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and their differentiation on the scaffolds were quantified via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. The significantly higher optical-density values and transcription levels of osteoblast-specific genes indicated that graphene modification could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and accelerate their specific differentiation into osteogenic lineages on scaffolds. In an in vivo test, rabbits were used to establish an extra-articular graft-to-bone healing model. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery, biomechanical tests, microcomputed tomography analysis, and histological observations were performed. The final results demonstrated that the microstructural parameters, the average mineral apposition rate of the bone, and the biomechanical properties of the graphene-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based artificial ligament (G-PET-AL) group were significantly higher than those of the PET-AL graft group (P < 0.05). The results of Van Gieson staining indicated that in the G-PET-AL group, there was more newly formed bone than there was in the group in which nongraphene-coated PET-ALs were used. In conclusion, graphene exhibits considerable potential for enhancing the surface bioactivation of materials.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Shang
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100872, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100872, China.
authors.forename: Li-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Wen
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: †Department of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 15 West Change Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008022:Ligaments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D006108:Graphite
keywords: artificial ligament; bioactivity; graft-to-bone healing; graphene; polyethylene terephthalate; surface modification