Three-dimensional graphene foam as a biocompatible and conductive scaffold for neural stem cells

Abstract

Neural stem cell (NSC) based therapy provides a promising approach for neural regeneration. For the success of NSC clinical application, a scaffold is required to provide three-dimensional (3D) cell growth microenvironments and appropriate synergistic cell guidance cues. Here, we report the first utilization of graphene foam, a 3D porous structure, as a novel scaffold for NSCs in vitro. It was found that three-dimensional graphene foams (3D-GFs) can not only support NSC growth, but also keep cell at an active proliferation state with upregulation of Ki67 expression than that of two-dimensional graphene films. Meanwhile, phenotypic analysis indicated that 3D-GFs can enhance the NSC differentiation towards astrocytes and especially neurons. Furthermore, a good electrical coupling of 3D-GFs with differentiated NSCs for efficient electrical stimulation was observed. Our findings implicate 3D-GFs could offer a powerful platform for NSC research, neural tissue engineering and neural prostheses.

Graphene and graphene oxide as nanomaterials for medicine and biology application

“…Polyethylenimine (PEI) modifies the surface of GO sheets and thus makes it ready for cellular gene delivery through covalent conjugation and electrostatic interaction [58] for plasmid DNA (pDNA) stacking. GO is attached covalently to the linear chain [35] and branched chain [59]. PEI is thus used for high-quality transfection effectiveness containing low cytotoxicity than pDNA/PEI complexes.…”

“…FeO nanoparticles provided GO with multifunctionality and multimodality for assorted organic and medicinal applications [62]. Antiinflammatory drug delivery of ibuprofen has been reported by applying chitosan-containing GO [35].…”

“…Graphene-based materials are used in the field of bone repair or organ regeneration. Both GO and rGO are utilized in osteogenic stem cells to study [28][29][30] chondrogenesis [31], adipogenesis [32], epithelial genesis [32], myogenesis, cardiomyogenesis [33,34] and neurogenesis [35].…”

Bio‐Interface of Conducting Polymer‐Based Materials for Neuroregeneration

“…It was found that three-dimensional graphene foams (3D-GF) can not only support NSCs growth, but also keep cells at an active proliferation state with regulation of Ki67 expression than that of two-dimensional graphene films. Meanwhile, phenotypic analysis indicated that 3D-GFs can enhance the NSCs differentiation towards astrocytes and especially neurons [106] .…”

“…Western Blot analysis of Ki67 expression on 2D graphene films and 3D-GFs. The Data are presented as mean ± standard error (s. e. m.), *p < 0.05, **p< 0.01 [106] . Table 1.…”