title: Graphene enhances the cardiomyogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.
abstract: Graphene has drawn attention as a substrate for stem cell culture and has been reported to stimulate the differentiation of multipotent adult stem cells. Here, we report that graphene enhances the cardiomyogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) at least in part, due to nanoroughness of graphene. Large-area graphene on glass coverslips was prepared via the chemical vapor deposition method. The coating of the graphene with vitronectin (VN) was required to ensure high viability of the hESCs cultured on the graphene. hESCs were cultured on either VN-coated glass (glass group) or VN-coated graphene (graphene group) for 21 days. The cells were also cultured on glass coated with Matrigel (Matrigel group), which is a substrate used in conventional, directed cardiomyogenic differentiation systems. The culture of hESCs on graphene promoted the expression of genes involved in the stepwise differentiation into mesodermal and endodermal lineage cells and subsequently cardiomyogenic differentiation compared with the culture on glass or Matrigel. In addition, the culture on graphene enhanced the gene expression of cardiac-specific extracellular matrices. Culture on graphene may provide a new platform for the development of stem cell therapies for ischemic heart diseases by enhancing the cardiomyogenic differentiation of hESCs.
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Subeom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Insu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gun-Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: byunghee@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byung Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Bioengineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: byungskim@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017931:DNA Primers; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006108:Graphite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Cardiomyogenic differentiation; Graphene; Human embryonic stem cells; Two dimensional culture