Nerve Cell Differentiation Using Constant and Programmed Electrical Stimulation through Conductive Non-functional Graphene Nanosheets Film

Electrical signal is one of the most important elctrophysiological phenomena and is widely used in electrogensis and electrodiagnosis. The use of appropriate external electrical stimulation (ES) to in situ modify cellular behavior can desirably promote tissue regeneration. Considering its high electron mobility and surface area, graphene could become a promising conductive scaffold in biomedical applications. In this study, a programmed ES, comprehensively concerning the ES factors, such as ES period, intensity, frequency, electrical pulse and interval change, was used to modify Rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells behaviours through a large size non-functional graphene nano-film (NGNF) which was prepared by spray coating the high conducting graphene sheets onto polyurethane film. The constant ES was used to select the optimized ES intensity and as well as control. The optimized ES condition with intensity of 100 mV/mm was shown to significantly enhance PC-12 cell differentiation, neurite extension and growth. Comparing the results by different ES, i.e. the constant 100 mV/mm and the programmed ES 100 mV/mm at 1 Hz and 10 Hz, the programmed ES increased longer neuritis length. The positive enhancement to nerve behaviour by programmed ES was still significant maintained at long periods of ES (48 h).