Covalent functionalization enables good dispersion and anisotropic orientation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a poly(l-lactic acid) electrospun nanofibrous matrix boosting neuronal differentiation

Vicentini, Nicola; Gatti, Teresa; Salice, Patrizio; Scapin, Giorgia; Marega, Carla; Filippini, F.; Menna, Enzo

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2015.08.094

Cited by 35 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Graphene, GBNs, and CNTs are being investigated as potential suitable materials for the growth of NSCs, neurons, and glial cells and for their ability to modulate the function of neuronal circuits in vitro (Li et al, 2011, 2013; Park et al, 2011; Lorenzoni et al, 2013; Solanki et al, 2013; Tang et al, 2013; Shah et al, 2014; Gupta et al, 2015; Vicentini et al, 2015; Weaver and Cui, 2015; Guo et al, 2016c; Marchesan et al, 2016). However, in these previous studies cells were plated on those materials previously coated with extracellular matrix proteins, which are known to promote cell adhesion, differentiation, and neurite outgrowth (Vicario et al, 1993; Calof et al, 1994; Specht et al, 2004; Otaegi et al, 2006; Nishimune et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, cells were plated on graphene composites, graphene oxides, or on reduced graphene oxides with different surface charges and degree of electrical, photo, and laser stimulation (Akhavan and Ghaderi, 2013a,b, 2014; Tu et al, 2013a, 2014; Akhavan et al, 2014, 2015; Guo et al, 2016a). Similarly, both uncoated and coated functionalized single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) as well as aligned CNTs and nanofibers have been reported to permit and stimulate neuronal growth and the formation of active synaptic contacts (Jan and Kotov, 2007; Malarkey et al, 2009; Cellot et al, 2011; Jin et al, 2011; Fabbro et al, 2013; Gupta et al, 2015; Vicentini et al, 2015). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatibility of Uncoated Thermally Reduced Graphene and Carbon Nanotube-Loaded PVDF Membranes with Adult Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neurons and Glia

Defteralı

Verdejo

Majeed

et al. 2016

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Graphene, graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being investigated as potential substrates for the growth of neural cells. However, in most in vitro studies, the cells were seeded on these materials coated with various proteins implying that the observed effects on the cells could not solely be attributed to the GBN and CNT properties. Here, we studied the biocompatibility of uncoated thermally reduced graphene (TRG) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes loaded with multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) using neural stem cells isolated from the adult mouse olfactory bulb (termed aOBSCs). When aOBSCs were induced to differentiate on coverslips treated with TRG or control materials (polyethyleneimine-PEI and polyornithine plus fibronectin-PLO/F) in a serum-free medium, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes were generated in all conditions, indicating that TRG permits the multi-lineage differentiation of aOBSCs. However, the total number of cells was reduced on both PEI and TRG. In a serum-containing medium, aOBSC-derived neurons and oligodendrocytes grown on TRG were more numerous than in controls; the neurons developed synaptic boutons and oligodendrocytes were more branched. In contrast, neurons growing on PVDF membranes had reduced neurite branching, and on MWCNTs-loaded membranes oligodendrocytes were lower in numbers than in controls. Overall, these findings indicate that uncoated TRG may be biocompatible with the generation, differentiation, and maturation of aOBSC-derived neurons and glial cells, implying a potential use for TRG to study functional neuronal networks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatibility of Uncoated Thermally Reduced Graphene and Carbon Nanotube-Loaded PVDF Membranes with Adult Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neurons and Glia

Defteralı

Verdejo

Majeed

et al. 2016

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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“…This is an indication that intermolecular interactions are likely to play an active role in stabilizing the novel blend suspensions of RGO in P3HT. In addition, it is worthy to mention that, by employing pristine RGO as the filler and after applying the same protocol, only a minimal wt.% of CNSs remain dispersed in the P3HT solution, further underlying the contribution of the chemical functionalization in ensuring a good quality of the dispersions, free from major aggregates and composed of individual RGO flakes. This is indeed a key issue for preserving most of GBM unique properties, such as the high aspect ratio and electrical conductivity, observed with single or few layers sheets .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the past, we have applied a coupled covalent chemical functionalization/sedimentation‐based separation (SBS) strategy to obtain homogeneous dispersion of RGO in a P3HT matrix . The chemical functionalities selected for binding to the RGO flakes surface were the 4‐(methoxy)phenyl groups (thus leading to species named as RGO‐PhOMe), introduced through a Tour‐type direct arylation reaction and previously demonstrated to be able to improve dispersibility of other CNSs in organic solvents and polymers . RGO‐PhOMe@P3HT blends, enriched in the most soluble fractions of the functionalized RGO derivative thanks to the SBS process, were then employed as hole transporting materials (HTMs) in standard architecture perovskite solar cells, providing increased efficiency and stability to the devices in comparison to the use of a bare P3HT HTM .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interfacial Morphology Addresses Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Composite Hole Transporting Materials of Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide and P3HT

et al. 2018

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The development of novel hole transporting materials (HTMs) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that can enhance device's reproducibility is a largely pursued goal, even to the detriment of a very high efficiency, since it paves the way to an effective industrialization of this technology. In this work, we study the covalent functionalization of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) flakes with different organic functional groups with the aim of increasing the stability and homogeneity of their dispersion within a poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) HTM. The selected functional groups are indeed those recalling the two characteristic moieties present in P3HT, i.e., the thienyl and alkyl residues. After preparation and characterization of a number of functionalized RGO@P3HT blends, we test the two containing the highest percentage of dispersed RGO as HTMs in PSCs and compare their performance with that of pristine P3HT and of the standard Spiro‐OMeTAD HTM. Results reveal the big influence of the morphology adopted by the single RGO flakes contained in the composite HTM in driving the final device performance and allow to distinguish one of these blends as a promising material for the fabrication of highly reproducible PSCs.

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“…Recently, several research groups have demonstrated a new approach for the functionalization of the glassy carbon, silica or gold electrodes via an electrochemical reduction of diazo aryl compounds bearing different substituents with a simple cyclic voltammetry . Other scientists followed up with this method to modify graphene or single walled carbon nanotubes . The electrochemical diazonium coupling to carbon is versatile, scalable and provides high functionalization degrees, while sustains good conjugation characteristics .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Surface Grafting of Carbon Allotropes with in‐situ Generated 3‐aryl Diazonium Chlorides: Electrochemical Kinetic Studies

Radtke

Ignaszak

2016

Electroanalysis

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In this work three different carbon allotropes: multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphene and carbon nanohorns (CNH) were covalently bound with in‐situ generated 3‐diazonium aryl chlorides. These species were attached to the carbon surface using an electrochemically‐initiated radical coupling, similar to the Gomberg‐Bachman type reaction. An electrochemical grafting of the extended π‐systems at the carbon surface was performed in aqueous media in a simple 3‐electrode system and its kinetics was investigated by a modified Butler‐Volmer approach. The analysis of Hammett constants demonstrated a strong influence of the type of electron donating‐/withdrawing substituents on the reduction potential peak position and the peak current. Moderately or strong electron withdrawing groups like ‐carboxy or ‐nitro tend to shift reduction potential towards more positive values, which facilitates an electron uptake. The deposition time varies for different carbon allotropes and depends on the carbon graphitization and the surface area. The best surface coverage was obtained at 90–150 sec of the deposition. Although, the surface functionalities are less conductive than the carbon, the electrodes showed a low internal resistance and thus a high rate of electron transfer (high exchange current density and the electron transfer rate constant), with the most promising observed for carbon nanohorns. The best performing carbon revealed also superior mass transport of the redox active species toward the electrode surface, owing to their unique particle shapes and its very porous structure. The Tafel analysis complemented by an impedance spectroscopy allowed selecting the best carbon substrate for the functionalization with a 3‐aminobenzoic acid.

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Covalent functionalization enables good dispersion and anisotropic orientation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a poly(l-lactic acid) electrospun nanofibrous matrix boosting neuronal differentiation

Cited by 35 publications

References 33 publications

In Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatibility of Uncoated Thermally Reduced Graphene and Carbon Nanotube-Loaded PVDF Membranes with Adult Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neurons and Glia

In Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatibility of Uncoated Thermally Reduced Graphene and Carbon Nanotube-Loaded PVDF Membranes with Adult Neural Stem Cell-Derived Neurons and Glia

Interfacial Morphology Addresses Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Composite Hole Transporting Materials of Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide and P3HT

A Surface Grafting of Carbon Allotropes with in‐situ Generated 3‐aryl Diazonium Chlorides: Electrochemical Kinetic Studies

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