Nanostructured Graphene Surfaces Promote Different Stages of Bone Cell Differentiation

Nano-Micro Letters, Apr 2018

Nanostructured graphene films were used as platforms for the differentiation of Saos-2 cells into bone-like cells. The films were grown using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method, which allowed the production of both vertically and horizontally aligned carbon nanowalls (CNWs). Modifications of the technique allowed control of the density of the CNWs and their orientation after the transfer process. The influence of two different topographies on cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation was investigated. First, the transferred graphene surfaces were shown to be noncytotoxic and were able to support cell adhesion and growth for over 7 days. Second, early cell differentiation (identified by cellular alkaline phosphatase release) was found to be enhanced on the horizontally aligned CNW surfaces, whereas mineralization (identified by cellular calcium production), a later stage of bone cell differentiation, was stimulated by the presence of the vertical CNWs on the surfaces. These results show that the graphene coatings, grown using the presented method, are biocompatible. And their topographies have an impact on cell behavior, which can be useful in tissue engineering applications. Open image in new window

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Nanostructured Graphene Surfaces Promote Different Stages of Bone Cell Differentiation

Nano-Micro Lett. Nanostructured Graphene Surfaces Promote Different Stages of Bone Cell Differentiation F. F. Borghi 0 1 2 3 4 5 . P. A. Bean 0 1 2 3 4 5 . M. D. M. Evans 0 1 2 3 4 5 . T. van der Laan 0 1 2 3 4 5 . S. Kumar 0 1 2 3 4 5 . K. Ostrikov 0 1 2 3 4 5 0 CSIRO Manufacturing , P.O. Box 52, North Ryde, NSW 2113 , Australia 1 Plasma Nanoscience, School of Physics, The University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW 2006 , Australia 2 & K. Ostrikov 3 CSIRO-QUT Joint Sustainable Processes and Devices Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization , P.O. Box 218, Lindfield, NSW 2070 , Australia 4 School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane, QLD 4000 , Australia 5 Brazilian Centre for Physics Research (CBPF) , Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud - 150, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ CEP 22290180 , Brazil Nanostructured graphene films were used as platforms for the differentiation of Saos-2 cells into bonelike cells. The films were grown using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method, which allowed the production of both vertically and horizontally aligned carbon nanowalls (CNWs). Modifications of the technique Highlights CNW 2 μm HGL 2 μm Nanostructure Cell interaction Differentiation Higher Ca production Higher Alkaline Phosphatase production allowed control of the density of the CNWs and their orientation after the transfer process. The influence of two different topographies on cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation was investigated. First, the transferred graphene surfaces were shown to be noncytotoxic and were able to support cell adhesion and growth for over 7 days. Second, early cell differentiation (identified by cellular alkaline phosphatase release) was found to be enhanced on the horizontally aligned CNW surfaces, whereas mineralization (identified by cellular calcium production), a later stage of bone cell differentiation, was stimulated by the presence of the vertical CNWs on the surfaces. These results show that the graphene coatings, grown using the presented method, are biocompatible. And their topographies have an impact on cell behavior, which can be useful in tissue engineering applications. 1 Introduction The use of nanomaterials for biological control has been a recurring topic of study over the past decades [ 1–7 ]. In addition to conventional chemical stimulus strategies, nanomaterials possess reduced-scale features that provide physical control over bacteria and cells [ 3–8 ]. Designed nanofeatures are capable of directing and applying forces to cells in order to trigger the activation and/or suppression of genes involved in a number of cellular processes, such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation (a process where cells become another cell type) [ 1, 9–12 ]. Therefore, the use of nanomaterials presents an interesting opportunity to control the fate of cells for the development of biomedical technologies, such as cell therapies and tissue engineering. Graphene has attracted considerable attention in the biomedical field owing to its unique and specific properties [ 12–16 ]. The chemistry of carbon is well known, which makes graphene a useful material for molecular attachment and functionalization. The potential toxicity of graphene and its derivatives (e.g., a solution of graphene nanoplatelets) has been investigated to determine their capabilities for applications in biomedicine [ 17–20 ]. For each nanostructure and variations on functionalization and concentration, different results were obtained. Studies on the interactions of graphene coatings/films with cells, using cell-based assays conducted in vitro, have also been reported. Glass and silicon coated with graphene films showed noncytotoxic responses and have been demonstrated to allow the proliferation of diverse types of cells [ 12, 21–26 ]. Recent reports have described the use of graphene-based nanostructures to control the differentiation of neural cells [ 17, 27 ]. Glass coated with single-layer graphene, in combination with growth factors and proteins, was used to enhance the differentiation of human neural stem cells into neurons [28]. Another study showed that reduced graphene oxide films could support the proliferation of neural stem cells and enhance their specific differentiation [ 29 ]. The effects of graphene films on cellular responses were also investigated using human osteoblasts (Saos-2 bone-like cells) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for bone regeneration applications [ 19 ]. Results showed that graphene films presented no cytotoxic effects on these cell types and were supportive of both cell adhesion and proliferation [ 24 ]. Interestingly, although the use of graphene films did not influence the overall proliferation rate of MSCs, it did promote their differentiation into the bone pathway more efficiently than did differentiation factors alone [ 25 ]. The origin of the enhance (...truncated)


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F. F. Borghi, P. A. Bean, M. D. M. Evans, T. van der Laan, S. Kumar, K. Ostrikov. Nanostructured Graphene Surfaces Promote Different Stages of Bone Cell Differentiation, Nano-Micro Letters, 2018, pp. 47, Volume 10, Issue 3, DOI: 10.1007/s40820-018-0198-0