Cell Alignment on Graphene-Amyloid Composites

Graphene-based hybrid nanomaterials have been shown to have great potential in various biotechnology applications including enzyme sensing and bone tissue engineering. Harnessing the unique properties of graphene and material strength of amyloids, a graphene-amyloid composite film is developed that can self-organize into periodic troughs and crests without the need of lithographic techniques or etching. The topographies generated by the film provide powerful modulators of contact and guidance to neural precursor cells, enabling efficient cellular polarization and differentiation. Using molecular dynamic simulations and high-resolution atomic force microscopy, the amyloidogenicity and handedness of matured amyloid nanofibrils to the micropatterns generated on the dried film are also correlated. These insights provide principles for peptide designing for generation of micropatterned, cell adhesive conductive substrates for optimal cell alignment and differentiation.