Piezoelectric PDMS/AlN Film for Osteogenesis in Vitro

Bone defect and nonunion are complex diseases which are difficult to treat due to insufficient bone regeneration. Electrical stimulation has attracted attention as a promising strategy to induce and enhance bone regeneration. Self-powered and biocompatible materials have been widely explored and used in biomedical devices, owing to their ability to produce electrical stimulation without an external power source. We aimed to prepare a piezoelectric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/aluminum nitride (AlN) film with excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductive ability for the growth of murine calvarial preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. By applying vibration to stimulate body movement, the PDMS/AlN film demonstrated a current density of 2–6 μA cm–2, and the generated continuous alternating current (AC) effectively promoted MC3T3-E1 cell growth, viability, and osteoblastic related gene expression (genes runt-related transcription factor 2 [RUNX2], osteocalcin [OCN], alkaline phosphatase [ALP]) and exhibited higher mineralization. Compared to blank plates and nonvibrated PDMS/AlN films, the vibrated PDMS/AlN film showed rapid and superior osteogenic differentiation. The design of the biocompatible and flexible piezoelectric PDMS/AlN film overcame the poor processability, brittleness, and instability of electrical stimulation of traditional electroactive materials, demonstrating great potential in the application of electrical stimulation for bone tissue engineering.