Oxidized graphene and cell supports in regenerative medicine

Dopaminergic neurons, which produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, participate in biological processes such as movement, which is why their progressive degeneration and death cause Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that affects the nervous system and causes lack of motor coordination, tremors and muscle stiffness. Although it is true that the origin of this pathology is unknown, there are therapies to improve its effects and improve the quality of life of patients.

Researchers at the University of Malaga (UMA) have found that graphene oxide may be the most effective material for testing new drugs or developing constructs for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease.

Graphene is a nanomaterial consisting of an isolated layer of carbon atoms positioned in a hexagonal shape.

After previous studies described that graphene promoted the differentiation of these dopaminergic cells and prevented their loss, the new goal of the UMA research team was to “seek cellular support to grow and protect future stem cells so that they could survive.” without generating tumor processes or aberrations ”, as indicated by Noela Rodríguez Losada, the study’s lead scientist.

“Our work shows that this material is ideal for generating cellular supports, allowing the proper growth of dopaminergic neurons and promoting the production of a replacement tissue for those neurons damaged by Parkinson’s disease,” says Rodríguez Losada.

The main author of this study, UMA researcher Noela Rodríguez. (Photo: UMA)

The UMA researcher ensures that graphene is a potential material to generate neuroprostheses due to its qualities: it is extremely conductive, flexible, biocompatible with cells, cheap to obtain and industrially scalable. Thus, for this search, three subtypes of this nanomaterial were generated: oxidized graphene (GO), partially reduced oxidized graphene (PRGO) and reduced total graphene (FRGO).

Subsequently, scientists from the Department of Human Physiology at the University of Malaga analyzed both the dust used to generate the different subtypes of graphene and the films of this material. Its intention was to study whether it exerted any toxic effect on cells, as well as its suitability for use as a neuroprosthesis.

The results showed that the different subtypes of oxidized graphene had a high biocompatibility with dopaminergic cells. Specifically, we showed how PRGO films favored maturation and protected them when we imitated the toxic conditions of Parkinson’s disease “, concludes Rodríguez Losada.

The study, entitled “Graphene oxide and reduced derivatives, such as powder or film scaffolds, differentially promote the differentiation and survival of the dopaminergic neuron”, was published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience and had the collaboration of the Central Research Support Services (SCAI). )) to the UMA; UMA Department of Biochemistry; Miguel Ángel Arráez, director of the Neurosurgery Unit of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga; Ernest Arenas, director of the Biomedicum Laboratory of the Karolinska Institute (Sweden); Pedro González Alegre, professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania; from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Salamanca; and the Norwegian company Abalonyx SL, a graphene producer. (Source: UMA)