Barium doped Silica-Titania Hollow Nanoparticles embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide Hydrogel as a Scaffold for Neural Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Three-dimensional RGO based hydrogels (RGO hydrogel, HNP-RGO hydrogel, Ba-HNP-RGO hydrogel) were successfully fabricated and applied as the scaffold for PC12 cells. All the hydrogels had suitable porous structure and elasticity for neurons. In vitro studies, three RGO hydrogels were highly biocompatible and bioactive. PC12 cells easily adhered and proliferated more rapidly on the three RGO hydrogels than glass (negative control). Moreover, RGO based hydrogels facilitated the elongation and branching of primary neurite through activating MAPK pathways. Particularly, the RGO component activated p38 and JNK pathways, while the HNPs component activated ERK and p38 pathways among MAPK pathways. These results would provide the possibilities of RGO based hydrogels for neural tissue engineering and improved understanding about how RGO works on neurons.