The promotion of neurite sprouting and outgrowth of mouse hippocampal cells in culture by graphene substrates

Abstract

a b s t r a c tGraphene has been demonstrated in many biomedical applications and its potentials for neural interfacing. Emerging concerns on graphene, as a biomedical material, are its biocompatibility and how biologically targeted tissue/cells respond to it. Relatively few studies attempted to address the interactions of graphene or its derivatives with the tissues/cells, while very few reports on neural system. In this study, we tried to explore how neurites, one of the key structures for neural functions, are affected by graphene during the development until maturation in a mouse hippocampal culture model. The results reveal that graphene substrates exhibited excellent biocompatibility, as cell viability and morphology were not affected. Meanwhile, neurite numbers and average neurite length on graphene were significantly enhanced during 2e7 days after cell seeding compared with tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) substrates. Especially on Day 2 of the neural development period, graphene substrates efficiently promoted neurite sprouting and outgrowth to the maximal extent. Additionally, expression of growthassociate protein-43 (GAP-43) was examined in both graphene and TCPS groups. Western blot analysis showed that GAP-43 expression was greatly enhanced in graphene group compared to TCPS group, which might result in the boost of neurite sprouting and outgrowth. This study suggests the potential of graphene as a material for neural interfacing and provides insight into the future biomedical applications of graphene.

Sciatic nerve repair using poly(ε‐caprolactone) tubular prosthesis associated with nanoparticles of carbon and graphene

“…Li et al (2011) observed that graphene films exhibit excellent biocompatibility in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons and are also capable of promoting growth and sprouting of neurons, especially during the early development phase.…”

Environmental applications using graphene composites: water remediation and gas adsorption

“…Multiple recent studies have focused on the use of graphene and graphene composites in biomedical applications. 133,[228][229][230][231] From these studies, as well as other cytotoxicity studies on graphene and related compounds, 69,232-251 we are able to draw some conclusions regarding graphene's biological toxicity.…”

“…Li et al showed that mice hippocampal neurons could be grown on CVD graphene, with the scaffold even promoting neutrite growth. 230 Additional studies have shown that graphene can also be used as a scaffold for human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells 251 and human stem cells. 229,231 Mammalian in vivo studies of the toxicity of graphene compounds have been conducted in mice.…”

Bio‐Interface of Conducting Polymer‐Based Materials for Neuroregeneration

“…The results revealed that graphene substrates exhibited excellent biocompatibility, as cell viability and morphology were not affected in comparison with the control specimen. In addition, neurite numbers and average neurite length on graphene were significantly enhanced during 2-7 days after cell seeding compared to tissue culture polystyrene (TCP) substrates [105] .…”