J Cell Physiol. 2019 Jan 5. doi: 10.1002/jcp.28040. [Epub ahead of print]

Magnetoelectric nanocomposite scaffold for high yield differentiation of mesenchymal stem cellsto neural-like cells.

Esmaeili E^1,2, Soleimani M², Ghiass MA³, Hatamie S¹, Vakilian S¹, Zomorrod MS¹, Sadeghzadeh N¹, Vossoughi M^4,5, Hosseinzadeh S⁶.

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Abstract

While the differentiation factors have been widely used to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into various cell types, they can cause harm at the same time. Therefore, it is beneficial to propose methods to differentiate MSCs without factors. Herein, magnetoelectric (ME) nanofibers were synthesized as the scaffold for the growth of MSCs and their differentiation into neural cells without factors. This nanocomposite takes the advantage of the synergies of the magnetostrictive filler, CoFe₂ O ₄ nanoparticles (CFO), and piezoelectric polymer, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Graphene oxide nanosheets were decorated with CFO nanoparticles for a proper dispersion in the polymer through a hydrothermal process. After that, the piezoelectric PVDF polymer, which contained the magnetic nanoparticles, underwent the electrospun process to form ME nanofibers, the ME property of which has the potential to be used in areas such as tissue engineering, biosensors, and actuators.