Three-dimensional graphene foam as a biocompatible and conductive scaffold for neural stem cells

• DOI: 10.1038/srep01604
• Publication Date: 2013-04-03T10:09:33Z
• Authors: Ning Li; Qi Zhang; Song Gao; Qin Song; Rong Huang; Long Wang; Liwei Liu; Jianwu Dai; Mingliang Tang; Guosheng Cheng
• Keywords: Neural tissue engineering; Biocompatible material

Neural stem cell (NSC) based therapy provides a promising approach for neural regeneration. For the success of NSC clinical application, scaffold is required to provide three-dimensional (3D) growth microenvironments and appropriate synergistic guidance cues. Here, we report first utilization graphene foam, 3D porous structure, as novel NSCs in vitro. It was found that foams (3D-GFs) can not only support growth, but also keep at an active proliferation state with upregulation Ki67 expression than two-dimensional films. Meanwhile, phenotypic analysis indicated 3D-GFs enhance differentiation towards astrocytes especially neurons. Furthermore, good electrical coupling differentiated efficient stimulation observed. Our findings implicate could offer powerful platform research, tissue engineering prostheses.