Journal article

Graphene functionalized scaffolds reduce the inflammatory response and supports endogenous neuroblast migration when implanted in the Adult Brain

K Zhou, S Motamed, GA Thouas, CC Bernard, D Li, HC Parkington, HA Coleman, DI Finkelstein, JS Forsythe

Plos One | Published : 2016

Abstract

Electroactive materials have been investigated as next-generation neuronal tissue engineering scaffolds to enhance neuronal regeneration and functional recovery after brain injury. Graphene, an emerging neuronal scaffold material with charge transfer properties, has shown promising results for neuronal cell survival and differentiation in vitro. In this in vivo work, electrospun microfiber scaffolds coated with self-assembled colloidal graphene, were implanted into the striatum or into the subventricular zone of adult rats. Microglia and astrocyte activation levels were suppressed with graphene functionalization. In addition, self-assembled graphene implants prevented glial scarring in the b..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

This research was supported under Australian Research Council's Discovery Projects funding scheme (DP0985433 & DP140100803). Prof. Claude Bernard is supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia/CIRM Joint Project (APP1053621), the Victoria/CIRM Joint Project (RMI-01739) and the Department of Industry, Commonwealth of Australia (AISRF06680). Prof. Dan Li was supported under Australian Research Council's Future Fellowships scheme (FT110100341).The authors wish to thank Monash Micro Imaging and Monash University Centre for Electron Microscopy for providing imaging instrumentation and general support. The authors also like to thank Guizhi Sun for her kind advice in immunostaining and imaging.