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Electroconductive Biohybrid Collagen/Pristine Graphene Composite Biomaterials with Enhanced Biological Activity
Author(s) -
Ryan Alan J.,
Kearney Cathal J.,
Shen Nian,
Khan Umar,
Kelly Adam G.,
Probst Christopher,
Brauchle Eva,
Biccai Sonia,
Garciarena Carolina D.,
VegaMayoral Victor,
Loskill Peter,
Kerrigan Steve W.,
Kelly Daniel J.,
SchenkeLayland Katja,
Coleman Jonathan N.,
O'Brien Fergal J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201706442
Subject(s) - graphene , materials science , nanotechnology , substrate (aquarium) , composite number , biomedical engineering , composite material , medicine , oceanography , geology
Abstract Electroconductive substrates are emerging as promising functional materials for biomedical applications. Here, the development of biohybrids of collagen and pristine graphene that effectively harness both the biofunctionality of the protein component and the increased stiffness and enhanced electrical conductivity (matching native cardiac tissue) obtainable with pristine graphene is reported. As well as improving substrate physical properties, the addition of pristine graphene also enhances human cardiac fibroblast growth while simultaneously inhibiting bacterial attachment ( Staphylococcus aureus ). When embryonic‐stem‐cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (ESC‐CMs) are cultured on the substrates, biohybrids containing 32 wt% graphene significantly increase metabolic activity and cross‐striated sarcomeric structures, indicative of the improved substrate suitability. By then applying electrical stimulation to these conductive biohybrid substrates, an enhancement of the alignment and maturation of the ESC‐CMs is achieved. While this in vitro work has clearly shown the potential of these materials to be translated for cardiac applications, it is proposed that these graphene‐based biohybrid platforms have potential for a myriad of other applications—particularly in electrically sensitive tissues, such as neural and neural and musculoskeletal tissues.