2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
(174g) Proliferation of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells Using Chitosan/Alginate/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites
Authors
Garcia, H. - Presenter, Texas A&M International University
Davachi, S. M., Texas A&M International University
Velazquez, C. A., Texas A&M International University
Moeinzadeh, A., Iran University of Medical Science
Bagher, Z., Iran University of Medical Sciences
Shabani, R., Iran University of Medical Sciences
Male survivors of childhood cancer often suffer from azoospermia, the lack of sperm cells in the body. To address this issue, isolating and purifying spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is crucial. Creating scaffolds that mimic the cells' natural environment is essential for promoting SSC regeneration and proliferation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nanocomposite scaffolds made of alginate, chitosan, and graphene oxide (GO) in supporting SSC proliferation. The cytotoxicity of the scaffolds was evaluated using an MTT assay at 1, 3, and 7 days. The scaffold containing 30 µg/mL of GO (ALGCS/GO30) showed the most promising results, indicating its optimal performance. The identity of the cells was confirmed using flow cytometry with C-Kit and GFRα1 markers. Various analyses were conducted to characterize the scaffold properties, including FTIR for chemical structure, XRD for crystallinity, and SEM for morphology. QRT-PCR was used to assess SSC proliferation. The results demonstrated that the ALGCS/GO30 nanocomposite scaffold was biocompatible and supported SSC attachment and proliferation. It exhibited a significant increase in proliferation markers compared to the control group, indicating its ability to promote SSC growth. Immunocytochemistry was used to measure the expression level of the PLZF protein, which confirmed the qRT-PCR findings, showing higher PLZF protein expression in nanocomposite scaffolds with GO compared to those without GO.