Graphene Oxide Promotes The Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Dopamine Neurons

Abstract

Aim: Nanoparticles are easier to pass through cell membranes, and they are considered to be the ideal biocompatible and mechanically stable platforms for supporting stem cell growth and differentiation. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO) and graphene (GR) on the dopamine neural differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Materials & methods: GO was prepared according to a modified Hummers method. GR was synthesized by reduction of GO via L-ascorbic acid as a reductant in an aqueous solution at room temperature. CNTs were fabricated by chemical vapor deposition method. ESCs were differentiated by a stromal cell-derived inducing activity (SDIA) method after 10 days coculture with PA6 cells. The dopamine neural differentiation of the ESCs-GFP was examined by immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR. Results: We found that only GO could effectively promote dopamine neuron differentiation after induction of SDIA and further enhance dopamine neuron-related gene expression compared with cells treated with no nanoparticle control, and the other two nanoparticles (CNTs and GR). Conclusion: These findings suggest that GO is a promising nanomaterial-based technical platform to effectively enhance dopamine neural differentiation of ESCs, which can be potentially applied for cell transplantation therapy.

Original submitted 22 April 2013; Revised submitted 13 October 2013

Keywords::

• carbon nanotubes
• differentiation
• dopamine neurons
• embryonic stem cells
• graphene
• graphene oxide

Supplementary Material

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant no. 2010CB945200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81171201), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (grant no. NCET-12-0356), and the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical disclosure

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval and have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for the animal experimental investigations.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge analysis support from the Instrumental Analysis Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (grant no. 2010CB945200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81171201), the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (grant no. NCET-12-0356), and the Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.