Fabrication, characterization, and biocompatibility of single‐walled carbon nanotube‐reinforced alginate composite scaffolds manufactured using freeform fabrication technique

Abstract

Composite polymeric scaffolds from alginate and single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) were produced using a freeform fabrication technique. The scaffolds were characterized for their structural, mechanical, and biological properties by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, tensile testing, and cell-scaffold interaction study. Three-dimensional hybrid alginate/SWCNT tissue scaffolds were fabricated in a multinozzle biopolymer deposition system, which makes possible to disperse and align SWCNTs in the alginate matrix. The structure of the resultant scaffolds was significantly altered due to SWCNT reinforcement, which was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Microtensile testing presented a reinforcement effect of SWCNT to the mechanical strength of the alginate struts. Ogden constitutive modeling was utilized to predict the stress-strain relationship of the alginate scaffold, which compared well with the experimental data. Cellular study by rat heart endothelial cell showed that the SWCNT incorporated in the alginate structure improved cell adhesion and proliferation. Our study suggests that hybrid alginate/SWCNT scaffolds are a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering applications.

Development of functionalized multi-walled carbon-nanotube-based alginate hydrogels for enabling biomimetic technologies

“…From other published studies using other cell types, it is already known that MWCNT-alginates are non-cytotoxic and promote cell adhesion and clustering6. In line with these published observations, it was seen that HeLa cells adhered to all gels and controls and appeared viable throughout culture (Supplementary Figures 4 and 5).…”

Electrospun aligned nanofibrous composite of MWCNT/polyurethane to enhance vascular endothelium cells proliferation and function

“…They were also used as fillers to improve polymeric matrix's biocompatibility as well as physical properties such as conductivity and mechanical strength. There have been many examples reported in literatures 28–38. We previously reported multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) could improve blood compatibility of polyurethane (PU) when they were used as fillers 39.…”

Combined additive manufacturing approaches in tissue engineering

“…With the same aim, hybrid scaffolds that integrate the advantages of several materials in the same microstructure have been fabricated [28,29]. In this regard, promising results have been obtained by the addition of nanomaterials (nanoparticles [30,31], carbon nanotubes [32], etc.) to AM printing media, enabling the creation of novel composites [33].…”