Abstract: Objective　In vitro assessment of the excellent osteoinductive ability of a self-sustaining graphene hydrogel on human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs).Methods　（1）The hADSCs were cultured on both SGH films and control glass, and cell adhesion and morphology were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunofluorescence analysis;（2）The in vitro experiments were divided into three groups, SGH films group, glass group (osteogenic medium) and control glass group (normal growth medium). In addition, in vitro experiments for osteogenic potential by hADSCs were performed for comparison among the three sample groups. Results　The hADSCs, as on control glass, also attached tightly on the surface of the SGH film and appeared normal cell morphology. The in vitro study showed better osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs on self-sustaining graphene hydrogel group scaffolds than in the control group（P<0.05）, due to the higher ALP activity, osteocalcin mRNA expression and mineralization, while its osteogenic ability was lower than in an osteogenic medium. Conclusion　This self-sustaining graphene hydrogel film appears to be highly biocompatible and osteoinductive for hADSCs.

Key words: self-sustaining graphene hydrogel, human adipose-derived stem cells, osteoinductive differentiation