Multifunctional polycaprolactone/graphene oxide nanocomposite coatings for metal implants

However, higher GO concentrations led to agglomeration, compromising coating integrity. Corrosion resistance was also found to increase with coating thickness.<br><br>Further, PCL/GO coatings were engineered for drug release, where drug-laden layers were incorporated beneath the coating. The release kinetics followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, with release rates controllable by adjusting coating thickness.

The optimized coating was then applied to pre-treated Mg alloy (AZ31), exhibiting similar corrosion resistance and drug release trends as seen with 316L SS.<br><br>Additionally, biocompatibility and photothermal properties were evaluated. GO enhanced stem cell survival at 0.02 wt% and 0.1 wt% but reduced viability at 0.2 wt%, indicating dose dependence. Photothermal therapy using MG-63 osteosarcoma cells confirmed that GO-mediated laser-induced heating effectively killed cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner.<br><br>This study highlights the potential of PCL/GO nanocomposite coatings as a multifunctional platform for enhanced Mg-based implants in bone repair and cancer therapy.