Synthesis, mechanical characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of Graphene-TiO2 reinforced alumina for biomedical applications

The study addresses the limited fracture toughness of Al2O3 2 O 3 ceramics by developing graphene-TiO2 2 reinforced alumina nanocomposites through pressing. Mechanical properties, including hardness, fracture toughness, and elasticity, were examined, alongside the structural characterization via XRD analysis and microstructure evaluation using SEM. Cytotoxicity and cell adhesion tests were conducted for in vitro biological evaluation. The inclusion of a graphene additive led to a nearly threefold increase in fracture toughness, reaching up to 8.161 MPa m 1/2 . Graphene doping induced a discernible shift to lower angles in the XRD pattern, revealing the presence of Al2O3, 2 O 3 , Al2TiO5, 2 TiO 5 , and TiO2 2 phases. Samples immersed in artificial body fluid for 14 days exhibited minimal ion release, with Titanium ion below 0.001 mg/L and aluminum ion below 0.05 mg/L, indicating a lack of significant ion release. The cytotoxic activity of the samples against NIH/3T3 cells was assessed through Alamar Blue analysis, revealing no significant change in cell viability after 48 h of exposure.