title: Cell-assembled graphene biocomposite for enhanced chondrogenic differentiation.
abstract: Graphene-based nanomaterials are increasingly being explored for use as biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications due to their exceptional physicochemical and mechanical properties. However, the two-dimensional nature of graphene makes it difficult to extend its applications beyond planar tissue culture. Here, graphene-cell biocomposites are used to pre-concentrate growth factors for chondrogenic differentiation. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are assembled with graphene flakes in the solution to form graphene-cell biocomposites. Increasing concentrations of graphene (G) and porous graphene oxide (pGO) are found to correlate positively with the extent of differentiation. However, beyond a certain concentration, especially in the case of graphene oxide, it will lead to decreased chondrogenesis due to increased diffusional barrier and cytotoxic effects. Nevertheless, these findings indicate that both G and pGO could serve as effective pre-concentration platforms for the construction of tissue-engineered cartilage and suspension-based cultures in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore; NUS Graduate School of Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wong Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Candy Haley
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.lastname: Kenry
authors.forename: Chenliang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kian Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Chwee Teck
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001798:Blood Proteins; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite; D003094:Collagen
keywords: biocomposites; graphene; graphene oxide; stem cells; tissue engineering