Graphene-Based Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Leading-edge regenerative medicine can take advantage of improved knowledge of key roles played, both in stem cell fate determination and in cell growth/differentiation, by mechano-transduction and other physicochemical stimuli from the tissue environment. This prompted advanced nanomaterials research to provide tissue engineers with next-generation scaffolds consisting of smart nanocomposites and/or hydrogels with nanofillers, where balanced combinations of specific matrices and nanomaterials can mediate and finely tune such stimuli and cues. In this review, we focus on graphene-based nanomaterials as, in addition to modulating nanotopography, elastic modulus and viscoelastic features of the scaffold, they can also regulate its conductivity. This feature is crucial to the determination and differentiation of some cell lineages and is of special interest to neural regenerative medicine. Hereafter we depict relevant properties of such nanofillers, illustrate how problems related to their eventual cytotoxicity are solved via enhanced synthesis, purification and derivatization protocols, and finally provide examples of successful applications in regenerative medicine on a number of tissues.

Gelatin-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Kluyveromyces lactis Encapsulation: Potential Applications in Probiotics and Bioreactor Packings

“…This indicates that the nanocomposite hydrogel most likely increases its elasticity and becomes mechanically stronger, favoring applications for the controlled delivery of probiotics and other bioactive molecules. Moreover, this behavior might be exploitable to enable other biological and biomedical applications, including regenerative therapies, cancer therapy, bioadhesives, wastewater treatment, packaging, and coatings [60,67,84,88,91]. (G') modulus for hydrogels after exposure to milli-bioreactor operation for 72 h and human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) simulated media and the comparison with a hydrogel in the absence of each treatment.…”

“…Several reports have discussed the use of graphene to alter properties such as transparency and absorbance, particle stability, biocompatibility, toxicity, and the ability to mimic extracellular matrix and tissue microenvironments [59]. Despite its enormous potential, graphene exhibits a few drawbacks, including limited solubility in aqueous media and the absence of a well-studied toxicology profile [60]. In this regard, a much better alternative to graphene for preparing mixtures in aqueous media (which is the case for most biological and biomedical applications) is graphene oxide (GO) [59].…”

Smart Hydrogels Meet Carbon Nanomaterials for New Frontiers in Medicine

“…Graphene’s high conductivity, low density, and chemical stability, make it a highly researched component also for conductive-tissue regeneration [ 104 , 105 ], such as the nerve [ 59 ] and cardiac tissues [ 106 ]. To this end, natural biopolymers such as alginate [ 101 ] and biodegradable alternatives such as polylactic acid [ 44 ], are often preferred, although new synthetic materials are also being investigated.…”

Self-Assembling Peptides and Carbon Nanomaterials Join Forces for Innovative Biomedical Applications

“…Graphene-based materials come in different form and size and their classification has been reviewed [ 172 ]. Graphene’s unique physicochemical properties, high conductivity and tensile strength, and low density have attracted great interest for biological applications [ 173 , 174 ]. As can be seen from Table 1 , graphene oxide is possibly the most studied type of derivative to generate biomaterials scaffold, in light of its higher dispersibility in water relative to graphene.…”