Browsing by Author "Alshawaf, Abdullah"

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    Generation of Neural Organoids from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using the Rotary Cell Culture System: Effects of Microgravity on Neural Progenitor Cell Fate
    (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2018-04) Mattei, Cristiana; Alshawaf, Abdullah; D’Abaco, Giovanna; Nayagam, Bryony; Dottori, Mirella
    Progress in aeronautics and spaceflight technologies requires in parallel further research on how microgravity may affect human tissue. To date, little is known about the effects of microgravity on human development. In this study we used the rotary cell culture system to investigate whether microgravity supports the generation and maintenance of neural organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a model of human brain development. Our results show that although neural organoids could be generated and maintained in microgravity conditions, there were changes in expression of rostral-caudal neural patterning genes and cortical markers compared to organoids generated in standard conditions. This phenomenon was also observed in hESC-derived cortical organoids exposed to microgravity for relatively shorter periods. These results are one of the first for analyzing human neurogenesis in a microgravity environment.
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    Graphene foam as a biocompatible scaffold for culturing human neurons
    (Royal Society Open Science, 2018-04) D'Abaco, Giovanna; Mattei, Cristiana; Nasr, Babak; Hudson, Emma; Alshawaf, Abdullah; Chana, Gursharan; Everall, Ian; Nayagam, Bryony; Dottori, Mirella; Skafidas, Efstratios
    In this study, we explore the use of electrically active graphene foam as a scaffold for the culture of human-derived neurons. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cortical neurons fated as either glutamatergic or GABAergic neuronal phenotypes were cultured on graphene foam. We show that graphene foam is biocompatible for the culture of human neurons, capable of supporting cell viability and differentiation of hESC-derived cortical neurons. Based on the findings, we propose that graphene foam represents a suitable scaffold for engineering neuronal tissue and warrants further investigation as a model for understanding neuronal maturation, function and circuit formation.