Rapid Hard-Tissue-Embedding Method For Embedding Graphene Nanomaterials: A Multilayered Graphene Hydrogel Membrane

Graphene has attracted great interest for its uses in tissue regeneration. Multilayered graphene hydrogel (MGH) membranes show great potential as barrier membranes in guided bone regeneration. However, when using the conventional methyl methacrylate-embedding process, the MGH membrane swells and loses its natural form, which seriously limits the observation of bone regeneration. A rapid embedding method is developed by adding the cross-linker tetra(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and increasing the polymerization temperature (45 degrees C) and initiator concentration (64% benzoyl peroxide in penetration liquid). By the rapid embedding method, the shape and properties of the MGH membrane can be well preserved, and the bone tissue can also be well embedded. The resulting blocks have uniform hardness, which makes it possible to obtain thin sections using a cutting and grinding procedure. The rapid embedding method has no significant effect on the conventional methods of bone regeneration detection. The interface between the MGH membrane and new bone tissue can be clearly observed. This new hard-tissue-embedding method can lead to better observation of the interaction between bone and graphene, providing an optimized experimental technology for the study of hard tissue regeneration with graphene in the future.