Phosphate graphene as an intrinsically osteoinductive scaffold for stem cell-driven bone regeneration

Significance Traumatic bone injuries or deformities are among the most common conditions that require surgical intervention affecting patients in the United States today. Current treatment options suffer shortcomings, clearly demonstrating a clinical need for tissue replacement techniques. An ideal treatment consists of a scaffold that promotes regeneration, matches the chemical and mechanical properties of bone, and degrades with a timeline matching the healing process. However, this ideal scaffold has not been realized. Here, we present a degradable, graphene-based material that mimics the chemical and mechanical composition of bone, promotes differentiation of stem cells, and leads to the formation of new bone in an animal model.