Graphene oxide doped cerium oxide and Gadolinium (III) oxide modified poly ɛ-caprolactone with enhancement in structure and cell viability for medical applications

In this study, five polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) as films were fabricated by incorporating Gd₂O₃, CeO₂, and graphene oxide (GO) into a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix through a casting technique. The structural and surface properties were analyzed using XRD, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. SEM images revealed a macro-porous surface with dispersed mineral grains embedded between GO sheets, contributing to favorable biological interactions. The addition of metal oxides significantly improved wettability, as indicated by reduced contact angles of 40° for Gd₂O₃/CeO₂/PCL and 49.5° for Gd₂O₃/CeO₂/GO/PCL. Optical analysis showed a shift in the absorption edge from 1.6 eV in pure PCL to 1.85 eV in Gd₂O₃/CeO₂/PCL. In vitro assays demonstrated that Gd₂O₃/CeO₂/GO/PCL exhibited excellent cytocompatibility, achieving 131.72 % fibroblast viability at 2.4 μg/mL and maintaining 98.44 % at 312.5 μg/mL. Additionally, selective cytotoxicity was observed, with 60.29 % viability in malignant fibroblasts and 88.28 % in normal cells at 5000 μg/mL. These results indicate that the prepared PNCs might effectively work as bioactive scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications.