Regulation of Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation by Graphene-Based Biomaterials

Figure 4

The regulation of NSC differentiation by 2D graphene-based substrates. (a) Graphene substrates enhanced the differentiation of NSCs after culturing for 1 month. (b) Graphene promoted the formation of neural networks after culturing for 14 days. (c) GO-coated SiO₂ nanoparticles guided the axonal alignment of differentiated NSCs: (i) glass substrate, (ii) SiO₂ nanoparticle-coated substrate, (iii) GO substrate, and (iv) GO-coated SiO₂ nanoparticle substrate. (d) Rat primary hippocampal neurons cultured on GO and laser-scribed rGO substrates: (A) primary hippocampal neurons on the GO substrate; (B) primary hippocampal neurons on the laser-scribed rGO substrate; (C) the viability of primary hippocampal neurons cultured on both substrates; (D) a primary neuron cultured on the laser-scribed rGO substrate for 5 days, with the inset image showing a soma attached to a scribed region; (E) neurites passing in between the grooves of the laser-scribed rGO substrate (the arrowheads indicate neurites).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)