The eggshell membrane (ESM) is usually regarded as an agricultural byproduct waste, even though it has unique properties as a biomaterial. In particular, the ESM has a flexible and highly pure microfibrous network structure that can be used as an artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) platform for engraftment or as a tissue-engineered scaffold. In this study, flexible and functional scaffolds were constructed using an ESM and graphene, and their applicability for stem cell and tissue engineering was analyzed. The graphene-layered ESM (GEM) scaffolds show enhanced characteristics, such as ECM-like hierarchical micro- and nanostructures and better mechanical and hydrophilic properties than those of a raw ESM. The GEM scaffolds can control the adhesion properties of stem cells, enhancing the proliferation and osteogenic properties of the cells compared with the effects of a raw ESM. Additionally, the GEM scaffolds can improve the secretion of growth factors from stem cells, possibly through enhanced cell-substrate interactions, thereby promoting the proliferation and differentiation of these cells.
Keywords: eggshell membranes; graphene; scaffolds; stem cells; tissue engineering.