4D printing of stretchable nanocookie@conduit material hosting biocues and magnetoelectric stimulation for neurite sprouting

• Published in: NPG Asia materials Vol. 12; no. 1
• Main Authors: Fang, Jen-Hung, Hsu, Hao-Hsiang, Hsu, Ru-Siou, Peng, Chih-Kang, Lu, Yu-Jen, Chen, You-Yin, Chen, San-Yuan, Hu, Shang-Hsiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.01.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 132/124; 142/136; 631/61/350/354; 631/61/54/994; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Carbon; Cell adhesion; Cell adhesion & migration; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conductors; Differentiation (biology); Electric currents; Electromagnetic induction; Energy Systems; Graphene; Growth factors; In vivo methods and tests; Magnetic fields; Magnetic permeability; Materials Science; Myelin; Neurons; Optical and Electronic Materials; Printed materials; Regeneration; Sheaths; Silicon dioxide; Stimulation; Structural Materials; Surface and Interface Science; Thin Films; Three dimensional printing; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 1884-4049; 1884-4057; 1884-4057
• DOI: 10.1038/s41427-020-00244-1

A high-frequency magnetic field (MF) generates an electric current by charging conductors that enable the induction of various biological processes, including changes in cell fate and programming. In this study, we show that electromagnetized carbon porous nanocookies (NCs) under MF treatment facilitate magnetoelectric conversion for growth factor release and cell stimulation to induce neuron cell differentiation and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Integrating four-dimensional printing technology, the NCs are exposed on the surface, which enhances the cell adhesion and allows direct manipulation of electromagnetic stimulation of the cells. Remarkably, large amounts of growth factor encapsulated in NC@conduit resulted in excellent permeability and on-demand release, improving the in vivo layers of myelin sheaths and directing the axon orientation at 1 month postimplantation. This study offers proof of principle for MF-guided in vivo neuron regeneration as a potentially viable tissue regeneration approach for neuronal diseases. Biomaterials: Nanoscale stimulation of new neurons Researchers in Taiwan have developed a printable biomaterial that has potential for neuron regeneration and treating neural diseases. Four-dimensional printed materials are objects created using 3D printing technology but whose properties can be altered in time, by electrical pulses for example. A team led by San-Yuan Chen from National Chiao Tung University and Shang-Hsiu Hu from National Tsing Hua University, both in Hsinchu, made biomedical four-dimensional printed material by combining stretchable and biocompatible graphene oxide nanosheets with so-called nanocookies: porous carbon with silica embedded into its surface. The pores in the carbon act as a scaffold on which neurons can grow, and an electric current induced in the silica by a high-frequency magnetic field stimulated this growth. The team observed this stimulation in both cell cultures and rat models. 4D Printing Conduits: Electromagnitized carbon porous nanoccookies (NCs) under MF facilitate magneto-electrical conversion for growth factor release and cell simulation. Integrating four-dimensional (4D) printed technology, exposed NCs are able to enhances the cell adhesion and manifest directly electromagnetic stimulation to cells.