Electrospun Carbon Nanotube-Based Scaffolds Exhibit High Conductivity and Cytocompatibility for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known for their excellent conductive properties. Here, we present two novel methods, “sandwich” (sCNT) and dual deposition (DD CNT), for incorporating CNTs into electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin scaffolds to increase their conductance. Based on CNT percentage, the DD CNT scaffolds contain significantly higher quantities of CNTs than the sCNT scaffolds. The inclusion of CNTs increased the electrical conductance of scaffolds from 0.0 ± 0.00 kS (non-CNT) to 0.54 ± 0.10 kS (sCNT) and 5.22 ± 0.49 kS (DD CNT) when measured parallel to CNT arrays and to 0.25 ± 0.003 kS (sCNT) and 2.85 ± 1.12 (DD CNT) when measured orthogonally to CNT arrays. The inclusion of CNTs increased fiber diameter and pore size, promoting cellular migration into the scaffolds. CNT inclusion also decreased the degradation rate and increased hydrophobicity of scaffolds. Additionally, CNT inclusion increased Young’s modulus and failure load of scaffolds, increasing their mechanical robustness. Murine fibroblasts were maintained on the scaffolds for 30 days, demonstrating high cytocompatibility. The increased conductivity and high cytocompatibility of the CNT-incorporated scaffolds make them appropriate candidates for future use in cardiac and neural tissue engineering.

Theranostic applications of multifunctional carbon nanomaterials

“…27 There are some reports indicating the cytocompatibility of CNTs with cardiomyocytes and neurons and their potential for myocardial tissue engineering applications. 123 Mechanical coupling of cardiomyocytes (heart cells) to each other and the formation of elongated and aligned cell bundles that create an anisotropic syncytium can be facilitated by the extracellular matrix of muscle tissue, like the heart. Recently a novel biological soft robot has been designed using a CNTs-induced myocardial tissue layer and a color probe that simulates the crawling of snakes and caterpillars (Figure 11).…”

“…By incorporating CNTs into the scaffolds during the electrospinning part of the process, their electrical conductivity and cytocompatibility were significantly improved, which makes them potential candidates for developing novel cardiac tissue-engineered constructs. 123 Carbon nanomaterials such as CQDs, due to their high fluorescence properties, are potent materials for detecting cardiac markers. Myoglobin (Mb) is one of the most reliable markers for predicting future cardiovascular events and/or diagnosing patients with acute coronary syndrome.…”

“…In a recent report, the electrospun CNT‐based scaffolds have been fabricated using sandwich and dual deposition methods. By incorporating CNTs into the scaffolds during the electrospinning part of the process, their electrical conductivity and cytocompatibility were significantly improved, which makes them potential candidates for developing novel cardiac tissue‐engineered constructs 123 …”

Architecting Ultrathin Graphitic C3N4 Nanosheets Incorporated PVA/Gelatin Bionanocomposite for Potential Biomedical Application: Effect on Drug Delivery, Release Kinetics, and Antibacterial Activity

“…Different kinds of polymers commonly used for drug delivery application are chitosan, gelatin, PVA (poly vinyl alcohol), alginate, PLA (poly lactic acid), PEG (poly ethylene glycol), PCL (polycaprolactone) over the last 40 years. − In this work, PVA and gelatin (GE) were selected and blended together to ameliorate individual physical and chemical properties. Both PVA and gelatin possess first film forming property, mechanical strength, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and cell adhesion property. , Considering these properties this blended polymer are widely used in wound dressing, drug delivery, artificial skin, tissue engineering, heat valve, cartilage substitute .…”

Piezoelectric conductive electrospun nanocomposite PCL/Polyaniline/Barium Titanate scaffold for tissue engineering applications

“…As far as we know, numerous studies have been conducted on bioactive tissue engineering scaffolds; however, a limited number of studies investigated the electrical stimuli scaffolds with synchronous conductivity 17 , 18 . The ultimate goal of the present study was to design and prepare a self-electrical stimuli tissue engineering electrospun scaffold with high conductivity and modifiable output voltage to regenerate tissues like bone and cartilage.…”