Application of Some Graphene Derivatives to Increase the Efficiency of Stem Cell Therapy

Graphene and its derivatives have application potential in many areas such as environmental technology, catalysis, biomedicine, and in particular, stem cell-based differentiation and regenerative therapies. Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation has emerged as a potential therapy for some diseases, such as acute kidney damage, liver failure and myocardial infarction. However, the poor survival of transplanted stem cells in such applications has significantly limited their therapeutic effectiveness. Graphene-based materials can improve the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells as they prevent the death of implanted cells by attaching them prior to implantation and increasing their paracrine secretion. In this review, we will highlight a number of recent studies that have investigated the potential use of graphene or its derivatives in stem cell applications and the prevention of transplanted stem cells from cell death, thereby improving their therapeutic efficacy.