In Vitro Evaluation of Carbon Nanotube-Based Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Cartilage injuries are one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Although a number of techniques have been designed to treat cartilage lesions, current research is focused on tissue engineering methods. Recent advances in molecular biology, biotechnology, and polymer science have led to both the experimental and clinical application of various cell types and biomaterials in the treatment of cartilage injuries. This study reports an exceptionally good growth of chondrocytes on a 3D scaffold, based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNT-based nanostructural scaffold was fabricated employing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. Articular cartilage specimens were taken from the distal femur of adolescent New Zealand White rabbits and chondrocytes were obtained by collagenase digestion. The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cell-seeded constructs were visualized with SEM. Chondrocytes adhered to the MWCNT surfaces and were evenly distributed. After one week of culturing, the number of cells was tripled on the MWCNT scaffolds in respect to the culturing in a plastic flask. These cells displayed multiple cytoplasmic extensions that interact with the MWCNTs. The nanotubes were bent by the cells and the cell morphology was altered through the nanostructured surface. Our study confirms that MWCNT-based surfaces provide a very good scaffold that can be used to stimulate the formation of cartilage tissue.