ZK60-GO Unidirectional Scaffolds: Enhanced Strength, Biodegradability, Cellular Response and Antibacterial Action for Bone Regeneration

ZK60-1 wt.% graphene oxide composite is used for manufacturing of a series of biodegradable porous unidirectional scaffolds featuring spherical pore morphology and varying local porosity (10–44%) through a combination of casting and computer numerical control (CNC) techniques and their fabrication, degradation, mechanical properties, antibacterial efficacy, and cellular response are discussed. The results demonstrated that the ZK60-1GO (ZG2) scaffold exhibited the lowest corrosion rate (2.6 mm/year) among all tested samples while maintaining a suitable compressive strength (124 MPa). Cell nuclei morphology was evaluated using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, while calcium deposition by bone cells was assessed via alizarin red staining. The results confirmed that the ZG2 scaffold provided optimal conditions. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that incorporating GO and increasing porosity in the Mg-based matrix significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results illustrated that unidirectional porosity improved the biological performance of the scaffolds while preserving their mechanical integrity, positioning them as promising candidates for orthopedic applications.