Disordered Graphene/Quartz Fabric as Biocompatible and Conductive Scaffold Promising for Regulated Growth and Differentiation of Nerve Cells

Nowadays, the use of topographical features and electrical conductivity of scaffolds at the cell-substrate interface for effectively regulating cell growth and differentiation have gained increasing attention due to great demands for tissue engineering. Herein, a facile approach to the growth of highly disordered graphene nanosheets (HDGNs) is demonstrated on a cheap and weaving quartz-braided structure as a functionalized scaffold for the differentiation of nerve cells. The patterned aligned structure can effectively integrate the advantages of a conductive graphene-functional interface (favorable for cell attachment and growth), topologically woven surface structure, providing a flexible and multifunctional regulatory platform for nerve cell growth. Compared with monocrystal polycrystalline graphene, amorphous graphene has high biocompatibility due to sufficient active sites, and has high conductivity to the composite nonconductive substrate, which can realize electrical stimulation (ES) of cell differentiation. Herein, the HDGN/quartz fabric with high biocompatibility (the cell viability is 98%), and great electrical conductivity, is proved. Then, the applied ES coupled with HDGN/quartz fabric significantly enhances selective neuronal differentiation into neurons (the differentiation growth rate is 131%). Collectively, herein, a new material basis is provided for electric induction of cell growth and differentiation, providing more possibilities for the development of intelligent biological applications.

Automated summary

Nowadays, the use of topographical features and electrical conductivity of scaffolds for cell growth and differentiation is gaining attention in tissue engineering. This study demonstrates a facile approach to growing highly disordered graphene nanosheets on a cheap and weaving quartz-braided structure as a functional scaffold for nerve cell differentiation. The aligned structure integrates conductive graphene, topological surface structure, and provides a flexible platform for nerve cell growth. The HDGN/quartz fabric shows high biocompatibility and electrical conductivity, and when coupled with electrical stimulation, enhances selective neuronal differentiation. This study provides a new material basis for electrically-induced cell growth and differentiation.