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Functional Carbon Nanotube Substrates for Tissue Engineering Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

X. Zhang ,
C. Ozkan ,
S. Prasad ,
M. Ozkan  and
S. Niyogi
X. Zhang
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering Department
C. Ozkan
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering Department
S. Prasad
Affiliation:
Electrical Engineering Department
M. Ozkan
Affiliation:
Electrical Engineering Department
S. Niyogi
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry; University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
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Abstract

In this paper, we describe nanostructured substrates as suitable and functional platforms for neuron scaffolding. Neurons are electrically excitable mammalian cells that on network formation serve as conduits for information transfer. A vast amount of information is transferred through the cells in the spinal cord via synaptic and gap junctions in the electro-ionic fashion mediated by neutrotransmitters. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are strong, flexible, conduct electrical current and they are biocompatible and non-biodegradable. They can be functionalized with different biomolecules like neuron growth factors and adhesion agents, properties that come useful in formation of neuron hybrids. These properties of the nanotubes make them potentially successful candidates to form prosthetic substrates to guide neurite outgrowth. A combination of microlithography and chemical vapor deposition is used to engineer patterned vertical multiwalled carbon nanotube substrates. These substrates function as scaffolds and are used to demonstrate the formation of directed neuronal networks. Multiple substrate geometries and nanotube heights are fabricated to determine the most suitable combination for understand the cell morphological changes. Changes in the interaction between the cell membrane and the nanotube substrate are visually characterized. Cell viability is determined via calcium staining and different types of nano-structure substrates are also tested for further studies.

Keywords

Nanoscale platformspatterned carbon nanotube substratesdirected neuron growth
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 872: Symposium J – Micro- and Nanosystems—Materials and Devices , 2005 , J18.32
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

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