Sustainable Graphene Synthesis and Analysis of Graphene-Based PLA Nanocomposites: Impacts of Polymer Functionalization and Potential Applications in Cancer Treatments

Due to their optimized mechanical, physicochemical, and biocompatible properties, poly-(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites functionalized with graphene have attracted growing interest in the biomedical field. In this study, a nanocomposite was developed by incorporating graphene at different concentrations into a commercial PLA-like resin, processed using the additive manufacturing technique of vat photopolymerization. Cell viability assays using human melanoma (MV3) tumor cells were performed on samples containing 0.1 and 0.3 wt % graphene. The results showed a significant, concentration-dependent inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. In contrast, nontumor cells (MNP-01 and MRC-5) exhibited good biocompatibility with the material, reinforcing the selective behavior of the composite. To better understand the composite's anticancer potential and its interactions with cells, extensive structural, topographical, and vibrational characterizations were conducted. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the addition of graphene did not significantly alter the polymer's structural profile. Raman spectroscopy yielded similar findings, showing unchanged vibrational modes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed changes in surface roughness, while Vickers microhardness (VM) tests showed increased hardness with higher graphene content. Wettability tests supported the biological findings, indicating increased hydrophilicity with higher graphene concentrations, which correlates with decreased MV3 cell viability. These results help elucidate the mechanisms mediating the interaction between cells and the PLA/graphene composite surface.