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Unique cellular network formation guided by heterostructures based on reduced graphene oxide - Ti3C2Tx MXene hydrogels
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Unique cellular network formation guided by heterostructures based on reduced graphene oxide - Ti3C2Tx MXene hydrogels

Jacek K. Wychowaniec, Jagoda Litowczenko, Krzysztof Tadyszak, Varun Natu, Claudia Aparicio, Barbara Peplinska, Michel W. Barsoum, Michal Otyepka and Blazej Scheibe
Acta biomaterialia, v 115
01 Oct 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.08.010
PMID: 32795646
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.08.010View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Engineering Engineering, Biomedical Materials Science Materials Science, Biomaterials Science & Technology Technology
Two-dimensional (2D) materials remain highly interesting for assembling three-dimensional (3D) structures, amongst others, in the form of macroscopic hydrogels. Herein, we present a novel approach for inducing chemical inter-sheet crosslinks via an ethylenediamine mediated reaction between Ti3C2Tx and graphene oxide in order to obtain a reduced graphene oxide-MXene (rGO-MXene) hydrogel. The composite hydrogels are hydrophilic with a stiffness of similar to 20 kPa. They also possess a unique inter-connected porous architecture, which led to a hitherto unprecedented ability of human cells across three different types, epithelial adenocarcinoma, neuroblastoma and fibroblasts, to form inter-connected three-dimensional networks. The attachments of the cells to the rGO-MXene hydrogels were superior to those of the sole rGO-control gels. This phenomenon stems from the strong affinity of cellular protrusions (neurites, lamellipodia and filopodia) to grow and connect along architectural network paths within the rGO-MXene hydrogel, which could lead to advanced control over macroscopic formations of cellular networks for technologically relevant bioengineering applications, including tissue engineering and personalized diagnostic networks-on-chip. Statement of Significance Conventional hydrogels are made of interconnected polymeric fibres. Unlike conventional case, we used hydrothermal and chemical approach to form interconnected porous hydrogels made of two-dimensional flakes from graphene oxide and metal carbide from a new family of MXenes (Ti3C2Tx). This way, we formed three-dimensional porous hydrogels with unique porous architecture of well-suited chemical surfaces and stiffness. Cells from three different types cultured on these scaffolds formed extended three-dimensional networks - a feature of extended cellular proliferation and pre-requisite for formation of organoids. Considering the studied 2D materials typically constitute materials exhibiting enhanced super-capacitor performances, our study points towards better understanding of design of tissue engineering materials for the future bioengineering fields including personalized diagnostic networks-on-chip, such as artificial heart actuators. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Biomedical
Materials Science, Biomaterials
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