title: Effects of Graphene Quantum Dots on the Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
abstract: The influence of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on key characteristics of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) phenotype (i.e., self-renewal, differentiation potential, and pluripotency) is systematically investigated in this work. First, the viability and impact of GQDs on the self-renewal potential of MSCs is evaluated in order to determine a threshold for the exposing dose. Second, GQDs uptake by MSCs is confirmed due to the excellent fluorescent properties of the particles. They exhibit a homogenous cytoplasmatic distribution that increases with the time and concentration. Third, the impact of GQDs on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs is deeply characterized. An enhanced activity of alkaline phosphatase promoted by GQDs indicates early activation of osteogenesis. This is also confirmed upon GQD-induced up-regulation of phenotypically related osteogenic genes (Runx2, osteopontin, and osteocalcin) and specific biomarkers expression (osteopontin and osteocalcin). GQDs also effectively enhance the formation of calcium-rich deposits characteristics of osteoblasts. Furthermore, genes microarray results indicate that the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by GQDs is in progress through a bone morphogenetic protein and transforming growth factor-β relative signaling pathways. Finally, intracytoplasmatic lipid detection shows that GQDs can also promote the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs, thus confirming the prevalence of their pluripotency potential.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jichuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Deshuai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Baojin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogenic Biology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yuanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), C/Marcel-li Domingo s/n, 43007, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar Rivera
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China.|Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000066673:Cell Self Renewal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D015675:Osteocalcin; D053495:Osteopontin; D006108:Graphite; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase
keywords: adipogenic differentiation; graphene quantum dots; mesenchymal stem cells; osteogenic differentiation; self-renewal