title: Monolayer Graphene-Directed Growth and Neuronal Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
abstract: The development of an efficient platform for the growth and neuronal differentiation of stem cells is crucial for autologous cell therapy and tissue engineering to treat various neuronal disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we describe the use of highly uniform graphene platforms that provide unique environments where unusual three-dimensional spheroids of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are formed, which is advantageous for the differentiation of hMSCs into neurons. We suppose that graphene regulates the interactions at cell-substrate or cell-cell interfaces, consequently promoting the neurogenesis of hMSCs as well as the outgrowth of neurites, which was evidenced by the graphene-induced upregulation of early neurogenesis-related genes. We also demonstrated that the differentiated neurons from hMSCs on graphene are notably sensitive to external ion stimulation, and their neuronal properties can be maintained even after detaching and re-seeding onto a normal cell culture substrate, suggesting the enhanced maturity of resulting neuronal cells. Thus, we conclude that monolayer graphene is capable of regulating the growth and neural differentiation of hMSCs, which would provide new insight and strategy not only for autologous stem cell therapy but for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine based on graphene scaffolds.
authors.forename: Jangho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Subeom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yeon Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ki Taek
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seonwoo
authors.forename: Sung-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Taek Dong
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Pill-Hoon
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.forename: Yun-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choung
authors.forename: Byung Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006108:Graphite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite