Graphene Oxide Substrate Promotes Neurotrophic Factor Secretion and Survival of Human Schwann-Like Adipose Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - RNAseq

Mesenchymal stromal cells from adipose tissue (AD-MSCs) exhibit favourable clinical traits for autologous transplantation and can develop a ‘Schwann-like’ phenotype (sAD-MSCs) to improve peripheral nerve regeneration, where severe injuries yield insufficient recovery. However, sAD-MSCs regress without biochemical stimulation and detach from conduits under unfavourable transplant conditions, negating their paracrine effects. Graphene-derived materials support AD-MSC attachment, regulating cell adhesion and function through physiochemistry and topography. We report graphene oxide (GO) as a suitable substrate for human sAD-MSCs incubation towards severe peripheral nerve injuries, through evaluating transcriptome changes, neurotrophic factor expression over a 7-day period, and cell viability in apoptotic conditions. Transcriptome changes from GO incubation across four patients were minor compared to biological variance.