Graphene Oxide-Enriched Polymer: Impact on Dental Pulp Cell Viability and Differentiation
Magdalena Vega-Quiroz1, Agustin Reyes-Maciel1, Christian Andrea Lopez-Ayuso1
1Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory, Nanostructures, and Biomaterials Area, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad León, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), León 37684, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Background:
Reconstructing maxillofacial defects is important in dentistry, so efforts are being made to develop materials that promote cell migration and repair. Graphene oxide (GO) is used to enhance the biocompatibility of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) due to its nanostructure.
Objective:
to assess cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC) in response to a conventional PMMA (PMMA) and polymer enriched with GO (PMMA+GO).
Methods:
Experiments were carried out with primary hDPSC subcultures. The PMMA and PMMA+GO were tested in direct and indirect contact. Cytotoxicity (1 day) and proliferation (3, 7, and 14 days) were evaluated with an MTT bioassay. The osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic aspects were determinate with alizarin red, oil red, and safranine. Mean values, standard deviation, and percentages were calculated; data were analyzed with Shapiro-Wilks normality and Student's t-test.
Results:
The cell viability of PMMA and PMMA+GO in direct contact correspond to 90.8 ± 6.2, 149.6 ± 14.5 (1 day); 99.9 ± 7.0, 95.7 ± 6.1 (3 days); 120.2 ± 14.6, 172.9 ± 16.2 (7 days); and 102.9 ± 17.3, 95.4 ± 22.8 (14 days). For indirect contact, 77.2 ± 8.4, 99 ± 21.4 (1 day); 64.8 ± 21.6, 67.0 ± 9.6 (3 days); 91.4 ± 16.5, 142 ± 18.7 (7 days); and 63 ± 15.8, 79.1 ± 3.1 (14 days). PMMA+GO samples showed enhanced adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic aspects.
Conclusions:
The integration of GO into PMMA biopolymers stimulates cell proliferation and differentiation, holding great promise for future applications in the field of biomedicine.
