Mechanisms of graphene influence on cell differentiation

The graphene family of nanomaterials (GFN) have a common carbon lattice base structure but represent a diverse range of materials with distinct chemical and physical characteristics. These characteristics are determined by the fabrication method and impart each material with specific chemical properties which govern interaction with cells and biomolecules, and physical properties that give unique nanotopography, stiffness, and electrical properties. Remarkably, members of the GFN have been shown to promote tissue formation and influence cell differentiation in a variety of tissue types, including neural, bone, and cardiac muscle, making them of high interest to the biomedical field. The diverse range of materials and experimental setups in the literature make uncovering the mechanism of action challenging. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that the ability of GFN to form non-covalent interactions (π-π, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic) with biomolecules may increase their bioavailability via sequestering/concentration/conformation protection to induce cell differentiation. In addition to the chemical properties, the stimulation of mechanosensing pathways, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and enhanced electrical activity of cells on GFN substrates demonstrates the importance of the physical properties in directing cell differentiation. The understanding of the mechanism behind the ability of GFN to enhance cell differentiation will allow the design and selection of materials with the desired properties for tissue repair and regeneration.