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Research Article

Effects of graphene oxide and graphene oxide quantum dots on the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth

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Pages 822-832 | Received 25 Oct 2018, Accepted 11 Dec 2018, Published online: 15 Mar 2019
 

Abstract

Graphene and its derivatives, graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs), have recently attracted much attention as bioactive factors in differentiating stem cells towards osteoblastic lineage. The stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) possess the properties of self-renewal, extensive proliferation, and multiple differentiation potential, and have gradually become one of the most promising mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of GO and GOQDs on the osteogenic differentiation of SHEDs. In this study, GO and GOQDs facilitated SHED proliferation up to 7 days in vitro at the concentration of 1 μg/ml. Because of their excellent fluorescent properties, GOQD uptake by SHEDs was confirmed and distributed in the SHED cytoplasm. Calcium nodules formation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and RNA and protein expression increased significantly in SHEDs treated with osteogenic induction medium containing GOQDs but decreased with osteogenic induction medium containing GO. Interestingly, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway appeared to be involved in osteogenic differentiation of SHEDs induced with GOQDs. In summary, GO and GOQDs at the concentration of 1 μg/ml promoted SHED proliferation. GOQDs induced the osteogenic differentiation of SHEDs, whilst GO slightly inhibited it.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No.81472526 and No.81873711], the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province [No. 2014A030313126] and the Guangdong Science and Technology Project [No. 2016A020215094 and No. 2016A020216007].