CVD-grown monolayer graphene induces osteogenic but not odontoblastic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.
The objective was to investigate the potential of graphene (Gp) to induce odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation in dental pulp stem cells (DPSC).



Gp was produced by chemical vapor deposition. DPSC were seeded on Gp or glass (Gl). Cells were maintained in culture medium for 28 days. Every two days, culture medium from Gp was used to treat cells on Gl and vice versa. Mineralization and differentiation of DPSC on all substrates were evaluated after 14 and 28 days by alizarin red S staining, qPCR, immunofluorescence and FACS. Statistics were performed with two-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons were performed using Tukey's post hoc test at a pre-set significance level of 5%.



After 14 and 28 days, Gp induced higher levels of mineralization as compared to Gl. Odontoblastic genes (MSX-1, PAX and DMP) were down-regulated and osteogenic genes and proteins (RUNX2, COL and OCN) were significantly upregulated on Gp comparing to Gl (p<0.05 for all cases). Medium from Gp induced downregulation of odontoblastic genes and increased bone-related gene and protein on Gl.



Graphene induced osteogenic and not odontoblastic differentiation of DPSC without the use of chemical inducers for osteogenesis. Graphene has the potential to be used as a substrate for craniofacial bone tissue engineering research.
Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Han
H
Xie
Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore.
Melissa
M
Chua
Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Intekhab
I
Islam
Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Ricardo
R
Bentini
Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Tong
T
Cao
Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
José Carlos
JC
Viana-Gomes
Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Antônio Hélio
AH
Castro Neto
Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: denvr@nus.edu.sg.
Vinicius
V
Rosa
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006108:Graphite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013234:Stem Cells
D006108:Graphite
Bone; Carbon; Differentiation; Mesenchymal stem cells; Osteoblast; Osteogenesis; Scaffold; Tissue engineering