The effect of collagen/polycaprolactone fibrous scaffold decorated with graphene nanoplatelet and low-frequency electromagnetic field on neuronal gene expression by stem cells

This study aimed to develop a collagen/polycaprolactone (CP) fibrous scaffold decorated with Graphene (Gr) nanoplatelets (Gr-CP). In previous studies, accessibility of cells to the surface of Gr nanoplatelet was missed. Nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning which sprayed Gr nanoplatelets (1 wt.%) to synthesize the Gr-CP scaffold. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized for investigation of chemical structure. Tensile tests were performed to study the influence of Gr on the mechanical properties of scaffolds. Cell differentiation was analyzed based on MAP2 and TUJ1 expression levels using real-time PCR technique in 6 groups. The variables examined in this experiment was the neural differentiating chemical medium, low-frequency electromagnetic field (LFEMF; 50Hz, 1mT) and Gr. Based on the results, Young's modulus, tensile strength and work of fracture ratio of the Gr-CP were 1.68, 2.41 and 1.42 times higher than those of the CP scaffold, respectively. MTT assay outcomes were indicative of scaffold cytocompatibility. The group treated with all three factors exhibited the highest MAP2 expression level compared to other groups. Based on the obtained results, exposing stem cells to the combined treatment of Gr and LFEMF can be used as a promising method to induce neuronal differentiation.