Graphene as an Enabling Strategy for Dental Implant and Tissue Regeneration

Graphene-based approaches have been influential in the design and manipulation of dental implants and tissue regeneration to overcome the problems associated with traditional titanium-based dental implants, such as their low biological affinity. Here, we describe the current progress of graphene-based platforms, which have contributed to major advances for improving cellular functions in in vitro and in vivo applications of dental implants. We also present opinions on the principal challenges and future prospects for new graphene-based platforms for the development of advanced graphene dental implants and tissue regeneration.

Hierarchically Micro- and Nanopatterned Topographical Cues for Modulation of Cellular Structure and Function.

Living cells receive biochemical and physical information from the surrounding microenvironment and respond to this information. Multiscale hierarchical substrates with micro- and nanogrooves have been shown to mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) better than conventional nanopatterned substrates; therefore, substrates with hierarchical topographical cues are considered suitable for investigating the role of physical factors in tissue functions. In this study, precisely controllable, multiscale hierarchical substrates that could mimic the micro- and nanotopography of complex ECMs were fabricated and used to culture various cell types, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, osteoblasts, and human mesenchymal stem cells. These substrates had both microscale wrinkles and nanoscale patterns and enhanced the alignment and elongation of all the cells tested. In particular, the nanotopography on the microscale wrinkles promoted not only the adhesion, but also the functions of the cells. These findings suggest that the hierarchical multiscale substrates effectively regulated cellular structure and functions and that they can be used as a platform for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.