Oxidated graphene and cellular supports in regenerative medicine

The dopaminergic neurons that produce the dopamine neurotransmitter, participate in biological processes such as motion, because progressive degeneration and death cause Parkinson’s disease, a strain that affects the nervous system and provokes a rigid motor. Although it is clear that the origin of this pathology is unknown, there are therapies to treat its effects and increase the quality of life of patients.

Investigators from the University of Málaga (UMA) have discovered that graphene oxide may be the most effective material for trying new drugs or developing structures for Parkinson’s cell replacement therapy.

Graphene is a nanomaterial consisting of a capillary of carbon atoms positioned in hexagonal shape.

Tras beskrywe in previous studies that the graph promotes the differentiation of these dopaminergic cells and prevention in the future, the new objective of the UMA investigation team is “the search for a cellular support that allows to cultivate and protect the future generate tumor processes or aberrations ”, as indicated by Noela Rodríguez Losada, principal scientist of the studio.

“Our work demonstrates that this material is the idon for generating cellular support, allowing the adequate adequacy of dopaminergic neurons and favoring the production of a neonatal rejuvenation neonate by Parkinson’s disease.

The lead author of this study, UMA researcher Noela Rodríguez. (Photo: UMA)

The UMA investigator ensures that graphene is a potential material for generating neuroprosthesis through its qualities: it is highly conductive, flexible, biocompatible with cells, free of charge and scalable at the industrial level. Thus, for this search, three subtypes of this nanomaterial are generated: the oxidized graphene (GO), the partially reduced oxidized graphene (PRGO) and the totally reduced graphene (FRGO).

Then, the scientists from the Department of Human Physiology at the University of Malaga will analyze the powder used to generate the subtypes of graphene as the particles of this material. His intention was to study and exert some toxic effect on the cells, as well as his idiosyncrasies to be used as a neuroprosthesis.

The results show that the different subtypes of oxidized graphene present a high biocompatibility with dopaminergic cells. In particular, we will see to it that PRGO’s favors the assessment of estates and protégés when imitating the toxic conditions of Parkinson’s disease, ”concluded Rodríguez Losada.

El estudio, titled “Graphene oxide and reduced derivatives, as powder or film scaffolds, promote differential and survival of neuronal neurons”, has the public and new revision of boundaries in neuroscience, and has the cooperation of the Servicios Centrales de Apoyo a la Investigación ( SCAI) of the UMA; of the Department of Biochemistry of the UMA; of Miguel Ángel Arráez, Director of the Unit of Neurosurgery of the Regional University Hospital of Málaga; de Ernest Arenas, director of the laboratory Biomedicum del Instituto Karolinska (Suecia); Pedro González Alegre, Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania; of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Salamanca; and from the company Norway Abalonyx SL, producer of graphene. (Source: UMA)