Synthesis and osteo-compatibility of novel reduced graphene oxide-aminosilica hybrid nanosheets

Combination of silica component with other materials is one of the current strategies to design bone regenerative materials. In this study, novel reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-aminosilica hybrid nanosheets with enhanced osteo-compatibility were synthesized from a mixture of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), graphene oxides (GO) and water. The presence of APTES in the mixture not only caused the conversion of GO to RGO, but also led to the hydrolysis and condensation of itself. It was for the first time reported the reducing role of APTES in the conversion of GO to RGO. It was found that the silicon (IV) ions were released from the hybrid nanosheets in a sustained way. The in vitro osteo-compatibility was evaluated by incubating the hybrid nanosheets with osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. A water soluble tetrazolium salt assay quantitatively indicated that the hybrid nanosheets had no significant toxicity and exhibited good biocompatibility. An alkaline phosphatase assay quantitatively indicated that the hybrid nanosheets enhanced the osteoblast differentiation compared to the GO nanosheets. An immunochemical assay further qualitatively indicated that the hybrid nanosheets stimulated the production of osteopontin as typical marker for osteoblast differentiation. Thus, the resultant hybrids nanosheets had a potential application in the bone regeneration.