scholarly journals Carbon nanotubes and their polymeric composites: the applications in tissue engineering

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyang Huang

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with unique graphitic structure, superior mechanical, electrical, optical and biological properties, has attracted more and more interests in biomedical applications, including gene/drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensor and tissue engineering. In this review, we focus on the role of CNTs and their polymeric composites in tissue engineering applications, with emphasis on their usages in the nerve, cardiac and bone tissue regenerations. The intrinsic natures of CNTs including their physical and chemical properties are first introduced, explaining the structure effects on CNTs electrical conductivity and various functionalization of CNTs to improve their hydrophobic characteristics. Biosafety issues of CNTs are also discussed in detail including the potential reasons to induce the toxicity and their potential strategies to minimise the toxicity effects. Several processing strategies including solution-based processing, polymerization, melt-based processing and grafting methods are presented to show the 2D/3D construct formations using the polymeric composite containing CNTs. For the sake of improving mechanical, electrical and biological properties and minimising the potential toxicity effects, recent advances using polymer/CNT composite the tissue engineering applications are displayed and they are mainly used in the neural tissue (to improve electrical conductivity and biological properties), cardiac tissue (to improve electrical, elastic properties and biological properties) and bone tissue (to improve mechanical properties and biological properties). Current limitations of CNTs in the tissue engineering are discussed and the corresponded future prospective are also provided. Overall, this review indicates that CNTs are promising “next-generation” materials for future biomedical applications.

2021 ◽  
Vol 06 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Saxena ◽  
Lalit Pandey ◽  
T. S. Srivatsan

Background: Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is one of the most studied biomimic for biomedical applications. Specially, nano-HAp has been utilized for bone tissue engineering various orthopedic applications. HAp possesses various suitable properties such as bioactivity, biodegradability and cell proliferation efficiency for bone tissue engineering applications. Yet, lacks in self-antibacterial activity, high surface area and target efficiency. Results: In this directioon, researchers have focused on exploring the required surface as well as the inherent properties of HAp at the nanoscale. These properties are largely dependent on the composition, size and morphology of the nano-HAp. Hence, nano-HAp has been found to be an excellent candidate with an attractive combination of properties for selection and use in biomedical applications, those required to enhanced biological responses. Further, depending on the type of application, these factors can be tuned to optimize the performance. Conclusion: In this review article, we focus on the chemical structure of HAp and the routes chosen and used for the synthesis of the nano-HAp. The role of various parameters in controlling synthesis at the nanoscale are presented and briefly discussed. In addition, we provide an overview of the various applications for the pristine and doped nano-HAp with recent examples in areas spanning the following: (i) bone tissue engineering applications, (ii) drug delivery applications, (iii) surface coatings, and (iv) scaffolds. The effect of chemical composition on the mechanical properties, surface properties and biological properties are also highlighted. Nano-HAp is found to be highly proficient for its biomedical applications, especially for bone tissue engineering applications. The nano-sized properties enhances the biological responses. The dopant ions that replaces the Ca ion into the hydroxyapatite (HAp) lattice plays a crucial role in its biomedical applications


Author(s):  
Mariane Beatriz Sordi ◽  
Ariadne Cristiane Cabral da Cruz ◽  
Águedo Aragones ◽  
Mabel Mariela Rodríguez Cordeiro ◽  
Ricardo de Souza Magini

The aim of this study was to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate degradation and biocompatibility of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) + hydroxyapatite / β-tricalcium phosphate (PLGA+HA/βTCP) scaffolds incorporating simvastatin (SIM) to verify if this biomaterial might be promising for bone tissue engineering. Samples were obtained by the solvent evaporation technique. Biphasic ceramic particles (70% HA, 30% βTCP) were added to PLGA in a ratio of 1:1. Samples with SIM received 1% (m:m) of this medication. Scaffolds were synthesized in a cylindric-shape and sterilized by ethylene oxide. For degradation analysis, samples were immersed in PBS at 37 °C under constant stirring for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Non-degraded samples were taken as reference. Mass variation, scanning electron microscopy, porosity analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry were performed to evaluate physico-chemical properties. Wettability and cytotoxicity tests were conducted to evaluate the biocompatibility. Microscopic images revealed the presence of macro, meso, and micropores in the polymer structure with HA/βTCP particles homogeneously dispersed. Chemical and thermal analyses presented very similar results for both PLGA+HA/βTCP and PLGA+HA/βTCP+SIM. The incorporation of simvastatin improved the hydrophilicity of scaffolds. Additionally, PLGA+HA/βTCP and PLGA+HA/βTCP+SIM scaffolds were biocompatible for osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. In summary, PLGA+HA/βTCP scaffolds incorporating simvastatin presented adequate structural, chemical, thermal, and biological properties for bone tissue engineering.


2021 ◽  
Vol 259 ◽  
pp. 123969
Author(s):  
H.R. Bakhsheshi-Rad ◽  
A. Najafinezhad ◽  
Z. Hadisi ◽  
Nida Iqbal ◽  
M. Daroonparvar ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kolli Sahithi ◽  
Maddela Swetha ◽  
Kumarasamy Ramasamy ◽  
Narasimhan Srinivasan ◽  
Nagarajan Selvamurugan

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 096369351001900 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hamlekhan ◽  
M. Mozafari ◽  
N. Nezafati ◽  
M. Azami ◽  
H. Hadipour

In this study, poly(∊-caprolactone) (PCL), gelatin (GEL) and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) was applied to fabricate novel PCL-GEL-HAp nanaocomposite scaffolds through a new fabrication method. With the aim of finding the best fabrication method, after testing different methods and solvents, the best method and solvents were found, and the nanocomposites were prepared through layer solvent casting combined with freeze-drying. Acetone and distillated water were used as the PCL and GEL solvents, respectively. The mechanical test showed that the increasing of the PCL weight through the scaffolds caused the improvement of the final nanocomposite mechanical behavior due to the increasing of the ultimate stress, stiffness and elastic modulus (8 MPa for 0% wt PCL to 23.5 MPa for 50% wt PCL). The biomineralization investigation of the scaffolds revealed the formation of bone-like apatite layers after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). In addition, the in vitro cytotoxity of the scaffolds using L929 mouse fibroblast cell line (ATCC) indicated no sign of toxicity. These results indicated that the fabricated scaffold possesses the prerequisites for bone tissue engineering applications.


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