Graphene/Si-Promoted Osteogenic Differentiation of BMSCs through Light Illumination

Abstract

Graphene (Gr) presents promising applications in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Light illumination is regarded as a spatiotemporally controllable, easily applicable, and noninvasive mean to modulate material responses. Herein, Gr-transferred silicon (Gr/Si) with a Schottky junction is utilized to evaluate the visible-light-promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Under light illumination, light-induced charges, owing to the formation of the Schottky junction at the interface of Gr and Si, accumulated on the surface and then changed the surface potential of Gr/Si. The Schottky junction and surface potential at the interface of Gr and Si was measured by photovoltaic test and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measurement showed that such variations of surface improved the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and the activation of the voltage-gated calcium channels through surface potential and accumulation of cytosolic Ca 2+ could be the reason. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization showed that surface charge could also affect BMSCs differentiation through the promotion or inhibition of the adsorption of osteogenic growth factors. Such light-promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs on Gr/Si may have huge potential for biomedical materials or devices for bone regeneration application.

Gadolinium-Doped BTO-Functionalized Nanocomposites with Enhanced MRI and X-ray Dual Imaging to Simulate the Electrical Properties of Bone

“…It is reported that calcineurin/NFAT signaling is a vital regulator of angiogenesis, immune development and function, and osteogenic differentiation. , Recent studies have shown that the genes of the calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathway, such as CaM, CaN, and NFAT, are widely expressed in multiple cell lines (including MC3T3-E1 cells) . Calmodulin (CaM), as a ubiquitous Ca 2+ -binding protein, participates in the regulation of Ca 2+ -sensitive biological events including Ca 2+ transport, transcriptional regulation, and long-term intracellular signaling .…”

“…Besides, a similar result has been reported that when negative potential generated by the poled membrane impacted the osteoblasts, an electric field is induced between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, stimulating the increase of intracellular Ca 2+ ions through cell-membrane VGCCs. 48 The change of intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in MC3T3-E1 cells would act as a second messenger to further activate the downstream calcineurin/ NFAT signaling pathway, which would promote osteogenic differentiation.…”

Gr/TiO2 Films with Light-Controlled Positive/Negative Charge for Cell Harvesting Application

“…Then, as-grown monolayer chemical vapor deposition copper matrix Gr (Nanjing Xianfeng Nanometer Material Technology Co., Ltd.) was transferred to the surface of the TN with the assistance of polylactic acid (Changchun Sino-Biomaterials Co., Ltd., crystallized poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA), 20 mg/mL dissolved in methylene dichloride). 22 Briefly, PLA solution was spin-coated on the surface of Gr, and the copper was etched away by ammonium persulfate aqueous solution (Aladdin Chemical Reagent, 0.1 M). The obtained PLA/Gr films were rinsed with deionized water and transferred to the surface of TN/SiO 2 .…”

Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Bone and Cartilage Regeneration: A Review

“…Also, under the illumination of visible light, the single layer of graphene can be transferred to the silicon surface, where the Schottky junction was formed. Long et al confirmed that the unique structure at the interface of graphene and Si could change the surface potential of the composites, activate the Ca 2+ signaling pathway, and eventually promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs . Besides, it is observed that graphene itself has a strong adsorption ability, which can be used to deliver osteogenic biomolecules …”