Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Cell Adhesion to Graphene Scaffolds
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Julia Oxford
Presentation Date
7-2017
Abstract
Recent innovations in tissue engineering include using combinations of biological and synthetic materials to regenerate or replace living tissues. However, promoting cell adhesion to biocompatible scaffolds is challenging. We proposed to promote cell adhesion to graphene foam by exposing the foam to Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) (a gas consisting of various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by accelerating atmospheric gases through an electric field generated between two parallel, low temperature co-fired ceramic plates) prior to seeding C2C12 stem cells on the graphene. We determined surface chemistry changes to the graphene using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and analyzed cell adhesion by fluorescent microscopy using Calcein AM assays. XPS analysis of the graphene surface following CAP treatment revealed a significant increase in oxygen atoms and a significant carbon-oxygen peak suggestive of a covalent bond formed on the graphene surface. Fluorescent microscopy of C2C12 cells on the graphene revealed a visual increase in cell adhesion following CAP exposure, but because of the 3-dimensional character of the graphene it is not possible to quantify these results. We plan to investigate the usage of graphene oxide in further studies to determine if its hydrophilic nature better supports cell adhesion following CAP exposure.
Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Cell Adhesion to Graphene Scaffolds
Recent innovations in tissue engineering include using combinations of biological and synthetic materials to regenerate or replace living tissues. However, promoting cell adhesion to biocompatible scaffolds is challenging. We proposed to promote cell adhesion to graphene foam by exposing the foam to Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) (a gas consisting of various reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by accelerating atmospheric gases through an electric field generated between two parallel, low temperature co-fired ceramic plates) prior to seeding C2C12 stem cells on the graphene. We determined surface chemistry changes to the graphene using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and analyzed cell adhesion by fluorescent microscopy using Calcein AM assays. XPS analysis of the graphene surface following CAP treatment revealed a significant increase in oxygen atoms and a significant carbon-oxygen peak suggestive of a covalent bond formed on the graphene surface. Fluorescent microscopy of C2C12 cells on the graphene revealed a visual increase in cell adhesion following CAP exposure, but because of the 3-dimensional character of the graphene it is not possible to quantify these results. We plan to investigate the usage of graphene oxide in further studies to determine if its hydrophilic nature better supports cell adhesion following CAP exposure.