Gelatin-reduced graphene oxide–azithromycin biocomposite coating on baghdadite scaffolds

A critical bone tissue engineering (BTE) strategy is fabricating porous scaffolds using simple and straightforward techniques. However, all porous structures share a common drawback – reduced strength due to porosity. Furthermore, bone scaffolds are vulnerable to bacterial infections when implanted, especially in compromised bone conditions. In this study, baghdadite (BAGH) scaffolds were developed and coated with gelatin (Gel)-reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-azithromycin (AZM) with suitable porosity (75%–80%) and pore size (600–800 μm) using the space holder method, combined with a dip coating process in a low vacuum condition. The outcomes revealed that incorporating the Gel-RGO layer increased the compressive strength from 0.8 to 2.9 MPa for the Gel-RGO-AZM scaffolds. The scaffolds coated with Gel-RGO-AZM demonstrated improved bioactivity compared with their uncoated counterparts, showcasing the ability to generate hydroxyapatite-like crystals after a 28-day soaking period in simulated body fluid. In vitro studies validated the antimicrobial effectiveness of co-released RGO and AZM from Gel-RGO-AZM-coated scaffolds against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Moreover, the coated scaffolds exhibited significantly improved cellular responses. In conclusion, the research results show that the developed BAGH scaffolds coated with Gel-RGO-AZM are promising materials for BTE, offering enhanced compressive strength, bioactivity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial performance.