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Conductive Graphene Oxide Hydrogel Composites with Functionalized Surface for Nerve Regeneration
Author(s) -
Lu Lichun,
Liu Xifeng,
Yaszemski Michael J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1300.15
Subject(s) - materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , graphene , self healing hydrogels , chemical engineering , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , methacrylate , ammonium persulfate , oxide , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite number , copolymer , composite material , polymerization , polymer , nanotechnology , metallurgy , engineering
Electrically conductive hydrogels composed of graphene oxide and oligo(polyethylene glycol fumarate) (OPF) have been developed for nerve regeneration applications. Graphene oxide was obtained through improved Hummers’ method and further modified with crosslinkable double bonds using acryloyl chloride to fabricate graphene oxide acrylate (GOA) sheets. Crosslinkable OPF was synthesized by linking poly(ethylene glycol) chains with crosslinkable fumarate chloride. The composite hydrogel was produced by crosslinking GOA sheets and OPF chains in an aqueous solution using ammonium persulfate (APS) and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) solution. Hydrogel properties can be well modulated by tuning the GOA sheet concentration in the hydrogel. To better support never cell growth in the GO‐OPF composite hydrogel, a series of functional groups including amine, negative charge, positive charge and acid groups were introduced through crosslinking a small composition of acrylamide, sodium methacrylate, 2‐methacryloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and 2‐sulfoethyl methacrylate, respectively within the network. The electrical conductivity, chemical and thermal properties of the composite hydrogels were characterized by four point probe electrical measurements, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The biocompatibility and effectiveness of these composite hydrogels in supporting nerve cell adhesion and proliferation were evaluated using PC12 cells. The ability of these composite hydrogels in supporting PC12 cell differentiation was evaluated in the presence of 5 ng mL −1 never growth factor (NGF). The results showed that the incorporation of graphene oxide and desired functional groups largely enhanced the never cell activities exemplified by better adhesion and neurite extension of PC12 cells on functionalized GO‐OPF composite hydrogels compared to pure OPF hydrogels. Support or Funding Information This work was supported by the Mayo Foundation. 1Schematic demonstration of GO‐OPF composite hydrogel fabrication and components.