Study of the physical properties and biocompatibility assessments of low nickel stainless steel loaded with different graphene oxide content for safe biomedical applications

The mechanical properties and biological responses are critical factors in evaluating surgical implants and medical devices. This study investigates the structure, mechanical performance, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and histopathological outcomes of low-nickel stainless steel with varying graphene oxide (GO) additive concentrations. The results revealed that increasing the GO content decreases the material's density. Notably, the material containing 0.5 wt% GO demonstrated superior mechanical properties, including enhanced Young's modulus, shear modulus, and bulk modulus. Biocompatibility was assessed through in vivo studies using albino rats, with 36 animals divided into six groups. Oxidative stress levels showed no significant differences between the groups, irrespective of the GO concentration. Similarly, the assessment of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 indicated no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05), except for the group treated with low-nickel stainless steel powder (S0), which exhibited a slight variation in inflammatory markers. Histopathological examination of knee joints post-sacrifice revealed normal tissues and joints across all groups except for group S0, which showed mild edema. These findings suggest that incorporating GO into low-nickel stainless steel enhances its mechanical properties and confirms its potential as a biologically safe material for implants and medical devices.