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Gold Nanoparticles Inducing Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells: A Review

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Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively studied for applications in biomedical sciences. AuNPs have exceptional advantages in cells studies include good biocompatibility and very low cytotoxicity. The eco-friendly synthesis of AuNPs with various physical characteristics is simple, and led to the fabrication of nanomaterials showing different biological functions routing cellular physiology. A growing number of recent studies focused on the promoting effect of AuNPs on stem cells osteogenic differentiation. This includes the ability of the AuNP to activate Wnt/β-catenin pathway, ERK/MAPK pathway and p38 MAPK pathway, resulting in the activation of the transcription factors for the osteogenic differentiation. This technology represents a promising therapeutic strategy to heal patients with bone injury, by regenerating bone cells using stem cells therapy. In this review, recent applications of AuNPs in stem cells osteogenic differentiation, along with the related inducing mechanism are discussed. We also provide recent updates on the AuNP synthesis methods.

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Author notes

  1. Zhang Xiang, Kaijun Wang, Weizhi Zhang, Seoh Wei Teh and Amira Peli have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopedics Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, 710077, China

    Zhang Xiang

  2. Orthopedics Department, Baoji Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Baoji, 721000, China

    Kaijun Wang

  3. Innoscience Research Sdn Bhd, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Weizhi Zhang

  4. Department of Biomedical Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Seoh Wei Teh & Pooi Ling Mok

  5. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Amira Peli & S. Suresh Kumar

  6. Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 43400, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Pooi Ling Mok & S. Suresh Kumar

  7. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, Jhong-li, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan

    Akon Higuchi

  8. Department of Reproduction, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan

    Akon Higuchi

  9. Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Akon Higuchi

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  1. Zhang Xiang
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  2. Kaijun Wang
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  3. Weizhi Zhang
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Correspondence to S. Suresh Kumar.

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Xiang, Z., Wang, K., Zhang, W. et al. Gold Nanoparticles Inducing Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells: A Review. J Clust Sci 29, 1–7 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10876-017-1311-0

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