title: Graphene oxide promotes the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to dopamine neurons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nanoparticles are easier to pass through cell membranes, and they are considered to be the ideal biocompatible and mechanically stable platforms for supporting stem cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO) and graphene (GR) on the dopamine neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  GO was prepared according to a modified Hummers method. GR was synthesized by reduction of GO via L-ascorbic acid as a reductant in an aqueous solution at room temperature. CNTs were fabricated by chemical vapor deposition method. ESCs were differentiated by a stromal cell-derived inducing activity (SDIA) method after 10 days coculture with PA6 cells. The dopamine neural differentiation of the ESCs-GFP was examined by immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that only GO could effectively promote dopamine neuron differentiation after induction of SDIA and further enhance dopamine neuron-related gene expression compared with cells treated with no nanoparticle control, and the other two nanoparticles (CNTs and GR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that GO is a promising nanomaterial-based technical platform to effectively enhance dopamine neural differentiation of ESCs, which can be potentially applied for cell transplantation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences & School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China. wdle@sibs.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Dehua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Minghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006108:Graphite / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite
keywords: carbon nanotubes; differentiation; dopamine neurons; embryonic stem cells; graphene; graphene oxide