A novel ultrasound-driven piezoelectric GBR membrane dispersed with boron nitride nanotubes promotes bone regeneration and anti-bacterial properties

Abstract

Bone graft absorption and infection are the major challenges to guided bone regeneration(GBR), yet the GBR membrane is neither osteogenic nor antibacterial. Hence, we followed sono-piezo therapy strategy by fabricating an electrospun membrane dispersed with boron nitride nanotubes. The PLLA/Gelatine/PDA@BNNT (PGBT) membrane has improved mechanical and biocompatible properties and generate piezovoltages of 130 mV when activated by ultrasound stimulation under 100 mW/cm2 without extra polarization. The PGBT with ultrasound is conducive to cellular osteogenesis, barrier function, and shows antibacterial rate of about 40 %. The rat cranial defect experiments revealed that PGBT with ultrasound could promote osteogenesis in-vivo and show great potentials for vertical bone defect repair.