Nanoscale Hybrid Coating Enables Multifunctional Tissue Scaffold for Potential Multimodal Therapeutic Applications.

Through a nature-inspired layer-by-layer assembly process, we developed a unique multifunctional tissue scaffold that consists of porous polyurethane substrate and nanoscale chitosan/graphene oxide hybrid coating. Alternative layers of drug-laden chitosan and graphene oxide nanosheets were held together through strong electrostatic interaction, giving rise to a robust multilayer architecture with control over structural element orientation and chemical composition at nanoscale. Combined pH-controlled co-delivery of multiple therapeutic agents and photothermal therapy has been achieved by our scaffold system.