Journal
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
Volume 99A, Issue 1, Pages 86-93Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.33164
Keywords
carbon nanotube (CNT); chitosan; fibers; coagulation and hydrodynamic focusing method; laminin; oxygen plasma technique; nerve tissue engineering
Funding
- National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan [NSC 98-2320-B-019-001-MY3]
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This study assesses the ability and potential of carbon nanotube (CNT)/chitosan to guide axon re-growth after nerve injuries. The CNT/chitosan fibers were produced via the coagulation and hydrodynamic focusing method. Fiber width and morphology were adjusted using such parameters as syringe pumping rate and the coagulant used. The CNT/chitosan fiber diameters were 50-300 mu m for syringe pumping rates of 6-48 mL/h. Polyethylene glycol/NaOH (25%, w/w) solution was a suitable coagulant for forming fibers with small diameters. Physical property tests demonstrate that the CNT/chitosan composites had superior tensile strength and electrical conductivity compared with those of chitosan alone. The MTT and LDH tests reveal that CNT/chitosan composites were not cytotoxic. To improve the neural cell affinity of CNT/chitosan fibers, laminin was incorporated onto fiber surfaces via the oxygen plasma technique; cell adhesion ratio increased significantly from 3.5% to 72.2% with this surface modification. Immunofluorescence staining and SEM imaging indicate that PC12 cells adhered successfully and grew on the laminin (LN)-coated CNT/chitosan films and fibers. Experimental results show that PC12 grown on LN-coated CNT/chitosan fibers in vitro extend longitudinally oriented neurites in a manner similar to that of native peripheral nerves. With the inherent electrical properties of CNTs, oriented CNT/chitosan fibers have a potential for use as nerve conduits in nerve tissue engineering. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 99A: 86-93, 2011.
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