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Directed Neural Stem Cell Differentiation with a Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite
Author(s) -
Weaver Cassandra L.,
Cui Xinyan Tracy
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201500056
Subject(s) - pedot:pss , neural tissue engineering , neural stem cell , materials science , nanotechnology , population , stem cell , cellular differentiation , scaffold , surface modification , biophysics , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biomedical engineering , biochemistry , medicine , environmental health , layer (electronics) , gene
Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has the potential to restore function to diseased or damaged nervous tissue, but poor control over cell survival, differentiation, and maturation limits therapeutic prospects. Engineered scaffolds that have the ability to drive neural stem cell behavior can address these limitations facing cell transplantation. Conducting polymers, which have the ability to electrically interface with cells, are attractive scaffolding candidates, but they lack the capacity for simple covalent modification, which would enable surface patterning of biomolecules. In this work, the NSC scaffolding performance of a nanocomposite composed of conducting polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (GO/PEDOT) is investigated. The GO/PEDOT material is nontoxic and improves NSC differentiation toward the neuronal lineage. Biomolecules interferon‐γ (IFNγ) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) that selectively promote neuronal or oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation, respectively, are covalently cross‐linked to the surface of the GO/PEDOT nanocomposite via carboxylic acid functional groups provided by GO using carbodiimide chemistry. The surfaces support a larger population of neurons when modified with IFNγ and a larger population of oligodendrocytes when modified by PDGF. This work demonstrates the customizability of GO/PEDOT for cell scaffolding applications and underlines its potential for controlling NSC behavior to improve therapeutic potential.