Stem Cells Dev. 2016 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print]

Silk-fibroin and graphene oxide composites promote human periodontal ligament stem cells spontaneous differentiation into osteo/cementoblast-like cells.

Vera-Sánchez M¹, Aznar-Cervantes S², Jover E³, García-Bernal D⁴, Oñate-Sánchez RE⁵, Hernández-Romero D⁶, Moraleda JM^7,8, Collado-González M⁹, Rodriguez-Lozano FJ¹⁰, Cenis JL¹¹.

Abstract

Graphene represents one of the most interesting additions to the tissue engineering toolbox. Novel graphene-based composites are required to improve the beneficial graphene properties in terms of tridimensional polymeric structure, conferring a higher mechanical strength and favoring the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we have demonstrated in a wide range of composite combinations, the successful use of graphene and silk-fibroin constructs for future bioengineering applications in the field of clinical regenerative dentistry using human periodontal ligament stem cells. Our results provide exciting new data for the development of suitable scaffolds that allow a good cell engrafting, the preservation of cell viability and proliferation, the promotion of the spontaneous osteoblastic differentiation, and importantly the stimulation of a higher cementum physiological synthesis than using other different available biomaterials.