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Hou, et al.
A B C

Figure 5. Confocal microscopy images of cell-seeded scaffolds (A) poly(ε-caprolactone), (B) 3 wt.%
graphene, and (C): 3 wt.% graphene oxide, 7 days after cell seeding.

Results show that PCL/G scaffolds present high
compressive modulus and strength. The addition
of GO reduces the WCA but after 7 days of cell
seeding PCL/GO exhibit reduced cell metabolic
activity than PCL and PCL/G scaffolds suggesting
potential cytotoxicity effects particularly for high
levels of GO. Results also show that both G and
GO fillers can improve the surface wettability of
the scaffolds, showing hydrophilicity. Moreover,
from the biological evaluation, it was possible to
observe that the G fillers promote cell attachment,
Figure 6. Cell viability/proliferation results 1, 3, viability, and proliferation while GO fillers reveal
and 7 days after cell seeding on different scaffolds an opposite trend.
(n = 5) (the fluorescence intensity of cell-seeded
PCL scaffolds at day 1 was set as 1). Acknowledgments

As observed, at day 1 and day 3 after cell Author Weiguang Wang acknowledge the funding
seeding, PCL/G scaffolds show significantly Rosetrees and Stoneygate Trust Young Enterprise
higher fluorescence intensity than PCL scaffolds Fellowship (Ref: A2750/M874) provided by
and PCL/GO scaffolds, but there is no statistical Rosetrees Trust (charity number 298582) and
difference between the scaffolds with different Stoneygate Trust (charity number 1119976). This
filler contents. After 7 days of cell seeding, there is project has been also supported by the University
no statistical difference between PCL scaffolds and of Manchester and the Engineering and Physical
PCL/G scaffolds. However, in the case of PCL/GO Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the UK,
scaffolds, the fluorescence intensity is significantly the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF),
lower than PCL scaffolds and PCL/G scaffolds. grant number EP/R01513/1.
Results seem to indicate that the fluorescence Conflicts of interest
intensity decreases with the addition of GO content.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of
4 Conclusions interest.

This paper investigates additively manufactured References
PCL, PCL/G, and PCL/GO scaffolds for bone
repair applications. Printed scaffolds presented 1. Langer R, Vacanti JP, 1993, Tissue Engineering. Science,
similar pore size and filament diameter as designed. 260:920–6.

International Journal of Bioprinting (2020)–Volume 6, Issue 2 67