Effect of electrical stimulation combined with graphene-oxide-based membranes on neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation

The combination of composite nerve materials prepared using degradable polymer materials with biological or physical factors has received extensive attention as a means to treat nerve injuries. This study focused on the potential application of graphene oxide (GO) composite conductive materials combined with electrical stimulation (ES) in nerve repair. A conductive poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/GO composite membrane was prepared, and its properties were tested using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a contact angle meter, and a mechanical tester. Next, neural stem cells (NSCs) were planted on the PLGA/GO conductive composite membrane and ES was applied. NSC proliferation and differentiation and neurite elongation were observed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, immunofluorescence, and PCR, respectively. The results showed that the PLGA/GO membrane had good hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and protein adsorption. ES combined with the PLGA/GO membrane significantly promoted NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation on the material surface and promoted significant neurite elongation. Our results suggest that ES combined with GO-related conductive composite materials can be used as a new therapeutic combination to treat nerve injuries.</p

Additional file 1 of An injectable, self-healing, electroconductive hydrogel loaded with neural stem cells and donepezil for enhancing local therapy effect of spinal cord injury

Additional file 1

Minimal data set.

Individual data points for graphs and figures in this research. (XLSX)</p

Proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured under ES with a different frequency for 1 and 3 days in vitro.

(*, p < 0.05, n = 4).</p

Proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured under IGF + ES combined treatment for 1, 3, 7 days in vitro.

(*, p < 0.05, n = 4).</p

Morphology of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured under the ES+IGF combined treatment for 1 day in vitro.

All scale bar lengths are 100 μm.</p

Combined treatment with electrical stimulation and insulin-like growth factor-1 promotes bone regeneration in vitro - Fig 7

<p>(a) ALP activity quantitative analysis by a pNPP assay at 7 d and 14 d. (*, p < 0.05, n = 4). ALP activity staining in the (b) IGF (50 ng/ml), (c) IGF (100 ng/ml), (d) IGF (200 ng/ml), (e) ES+IGF (50 ng/ml), (f) ES+IGF (100 ng/ml), (g) ES+IGF (200 ng/ml), and (h) control groups at 14 days. All scale bar lengths are 200 μm.</p

In vitro RUNX2 and OPN protein expression of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured for 7 d.

<p>All scale bar lengths are 100 μm.</p

Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the osteogenesis-related gene expression of RUNX2 (A), OPN (B) and Col I (C) after MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured for 7 days.

<p>(*, p < 0.05, n = 4).</p

Set-up of electrical stimulation.

<p>L-shaped platinum electrodes are connecting to a power supply and delivering electrical stimulation to the cells.</p