Figure 37.
Graphene–nanoparticle hybrids to guide neural stem cell differentiation and axonal alignment. (A) Schematic diagram depicting the varying conditions and influence of nanoparticle (NP) monolayers coated with graphene oxide (GO) on the alignment of axons extending from human NSCs, and the differentiation into neurons. The differentiated human NSCs (orange) and the NPs-coated with GO (blue) in the SEM image show enhanced neuronal differentiation and axonal alignment. (B) Differentiated human NSCs, immunostained with TuJ1 (red), show no alignment of axons on glass (control) and SiNP films, whereas the axons are significantly aligned on GO and SiNP-GO films. Scale bar: 10 um. Compass plots show a large variation in the angle of orientation of axons on glass (±42°) and SiNPs (±46.11°) and minimal variation on GO (±17.8°) and SiNP-GO (±9.16°). Plots also show that axons extending on SiNP and SiNP-GO are longer than those extending on glass and GO. Reprinted with permission from ref 244. Copyright 2013 Wiley.