scholarly journals Increased Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanofiber Mats for Possible Medical Applications

Fibers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trabelsi ◽  
Mamun ◽  
Klöcker ◽  
Sabantina ◽  
Großerhode ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Thermal Stabilization ◽  
Medical Application ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Precursor Polymers ◽  
Nanofiber Mats ◽  
Pan Nanofiber

Carbon fibers belong to the materials of high interest in medical application due to their good mechanical properties and because they are chemically inert at room temperature. Carbon nanofiber mats, which can be produced by electrospinning diverse precursor polymers, followed by thermal stabilization and carbonization, are under investigation as possible substrates for cell growth, especially for possible 3D cell growth applications in tissue engineering. However, such carbon nanofiber mats may be too brittle to serve as a reliable substrate. Here we report on a simple method of creating highly robust carbon nanofiber mats by using electrospun polyacrylonitrile/ZnO nanofiber mats as substrates. We show that the ZnO-blended polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mats have significantly increased fiber diameters, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties and thus supporting tissue engineering applications.

scholarly journals Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Tissue Engineering and Cell Growth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6929
Author(s):  
Ewin Tanzli ◽  
Andrea Ehrmann
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Polymer Blends ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Specific Substrate ◽  
Electrospun Nanofiber ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Nanofiber Mats ◽  
Surface Morphologies

In biotechnology, the field of cell cultivation is highly relevant. Cultivated cells can be used, for example, for the development of biopharmaceuticals and in tissue engineering. Commonly, mammalian cells are grown in bioreactors, T-flasks, well plates, etc., without a specific substrate. Nanofibrous mats, however, have been reported to promote cell growth, adhesion, and proliferation. Here, we give an overview of the different attempts at cultivating mammalian cells on electrospun nanofiber mats for biotechnological and biomedical purposes. Starting with a brief overview of the different electrospinning methods, resulting in random or defined fiber orientations in the nanofiber mats, we describe the typical materials used in cell growth applications in biotechnology and tissue engineering. The influence of using different surface morphologies and polymers or polymer blends on the possible application of such nanofiber mats for tissue engineering and other biotechnological applications is discussed. Polymer blends, in particular, can often be used to reach the required combination of mechanical and biological properties, making such nanofiber mats highly suitable for tissue engineering and other biotechnological or biomedical cell growth applications.

Quantifying Mechanical Properties of PCL-Based Nanofiber Mats Using Atomic Force Microscopy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison White ◽  
Amanda DeVos ◽  
Amr Elamin Elhussein ◽  
Jack Blank ◽  
Kalyani Nair
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cell Behavior ◽  
Engineering Applications ◽  
Collagen Coating ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Nanofiber Mats

Abstract Polymeric scaffolds aid in creating an environment for cell proliferation and differentiation in tissue engineering applications by acting as temporary artificial extracellular matrices (ECMs) for cells to form functional tissue. Many studies have reported that cell behavior can be significantly affected by the physical and chemical properties of a given scaffold. Therefore, the mechanical and structural properties of these scaffolds must be characterized. Polymeric solutions, such as polycaprolactone (PCL), have been electrospun into nanofiber mats to be used as cell scaffolds. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biocompatible polymer and is commonly used in tissue engineering applications; however, PCL is hydrophobic, which makes it difficult for cells to adhere to the mat. Coating the PCL-based mats with collagen, a naturally occurring protein with hydrophilic properties, may improve cell adhesion to the scaffold. The collagen coating may also alter the mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats. In this study, the effect of collagen coating on cell adhesion and proliferation are investigated using alamarBlue tests. Additionally, the mechanical and surface properties of PCL-based nanofiber mats are investigated using a Nanosurf C3000 atomic force microscope (AFM). One batch of PCL mats were coated with collagen, while the uncoated mats were used as controls. The cell behavior and material property values obtained from the uncoated PCL and collagen-coated PCL mats were analyzed and compared. The results of this study suggest that collagen does significantly influence the cell proliferation and material properties of PCL-based mats and that further studies should be conducted to better understand the effects of the nanoscale properties of the PCL-based mats on cell adhesion.

Fabrication, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of reduced graphene oxide-reinforced nanofiber mats

RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (66) ◽  
pp. 35035-35041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Jin ◽  
Dan Yue ◽  
Zhe-Wu Xu ◽  
Guobin Liang ◽  
Yilei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Reduced Graphene Oxide ◽  
Reduced Graphene ◽  
Nanofiber Mats

Graphene-based nanofibers with superior electrical and mechanical properties have been developed for application in tissue engineering.

scholarly journals Investigation on the Performance Improvement of Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Flexible Electrospun Carbon Nanofiber Mats

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 3683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin He ◽  
Qiuming Lan ◽  
Sirou Zhao ◽  
Junyan Liu ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sheet Resistance ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Thermal Stabilization ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Carbonization Temperature ◽  
Energy Storage Devices ◽  
Storage Devices ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Nanofiber Mats ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon nanofiber mats were fabricated using electrospinning and further carbonization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrochemical characterization were used to investigate the effects of precursor concentration, thermal stabilization and carbonization temperature, addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), activation of nitric acid and sulfuric acid on the morphologies, conductivity, flexibility and electrochemical properties of the fabricated carbon nanofiber mats. The results reveal that the carbon nanofiber mats with uniform fiber diameter of 200 nm and sheet resistance of 154 Ω/sq could be achieved with a PAN mass fraction of 12 wt% and a thermal stabilization and carbonization temperature of 270 °C and 900 °C, respectively. Due to the good conductivity and high strength of the MWCNTs, the sheet resistance of the carbon nanofiber mats decreases to around 60 Ω/sq by adding MWCNTs to precursor, and the mats exhibit excellent bend and fold flexibility. The electrochemical performance of the co-spun carbon nanofiber mats could be further improved by the activation treatment of acids, and the maximum specific capacitance of the carbon mat reaches 113.5 F/g at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm2 in the case of 1:3 HNO3:H2SO4. The investigation provides a reference for improving the performance of spun carbon nanofiber mats, which can be used as the electrodes or current collectors to further load other active materials in the applications of energy storage devices.

scholarly journals Non-Toxic Crosslinking of Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers for Tissue Engineering and Biomedicine—A Review

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1973
Author(s):  
Andrea Ehrmann
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Toxic Chemicals ◽  
Water Soluble Polymers ◽  
Physical Methods ◽  
Soluble Polymers ◽  
Electrospun Gelatin ◽  
Nanofiber Mats ◽  
Cell Growth And Proliferation

Electrospinning can be used to prepare nanofiber mats from diverse polymers, polymer blends, or polymers doped with other materials. Amongst this broad range of usable materials, biopolymers play an important role in biotechnological, biomedical, and other applications. However, several of them are water-soluble, necessitating a crosslinking step after electrospinning. While crosslinking with glutaraldehyde or other toxic chemicals is regularly reported in the literature, here, we concentrate on methods applying non-toxic or low-toxic chemicals, and enzymatic as well as physical methods. Making gelatin nanofibers non-water soluble by electrospinning them from a blend with non-water soluble polymers is another method described here. These possibilities are described together with the resulting physical properties, such as swelling behavior, mechanical strength, nanofiber morphology, or cell growth and proliferation on the crosslinked nanofiber mats. For most of these non-toxic crosslinking methods, the degree of crosslinking was found to be lower than for crosslinking with glutaraldehyde and other common toxic chemicals.

Rotary Beveling for In Situ Thin-Section Microscopy of Cell Cultures

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 550-551
Author(s):  
Dean A. Handley ◽  
Jack T. Alexander ◽  
Shu Chien
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Molecular Interactions ◽  
Convenient Method ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Thin Section Microscopy ◽  
Thin Sectioning ◽  
Organic Fluids

In situ preparation of cell cultures for ultrastructural investigations is a convenient method by which fixation, dehydration and embedment are carried out in the culture petri dish. The in situ method offers the advantage of preserving the native orientation of cell-cell interactions, junctional regions and overlapping configurations. In order to section after embedment, the petri dish is usually separated from the polymerized resin by either differential cryo-contraction or solvation in organic fluids. The remaining resin block must be re-embedded before sectioning. Although removal of the petri dish may not disrupt the native cellular geometry, it does sacrifice what is now recognized as an important characteristic of cell growth: cell-substratum molecular interactions. To preserve the topographic cell-substratum relationship, we developed a simple method of tapered rotary beveling to reduce the petri dish thickness to a dimension suitable for direct thin sectioning.

Cytocompatibility and Material Properties of Poly-carbonate Urethane/Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Neural Applications

2003 ◽  
Vol 774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice L. McKenzie ◽  
Michael C. Waid ◽  
Riyi Shi ◽  
Thomas J. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Carbon Nanofibers ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Scar Tissue ◽  
Tissue Response ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Weight Percentage ◽  
Poly Carbonate

AbstractCarbon nanofibers possess excellent conductivity properties, which may be beneficial in the design of more effective neural prostheses, however, limited evidence on their cytocompatibility properties exists. The objective of the present in vitro study was to determine cytocompatibility and material properties of formulations containing carbon nanofibers to predict the gliotic scar tissue response. Poly-carbonate urethane was combined with carbon nanofibers in varying weight percentages to provide a supportive matrix with beneficial bulk electrical and mechanical properties. The substrates were tested for mechanical properties and conductivity. Astrocytes (glial scar tissue-forming cells) were seeded onto the substrates for adhesion. Results provided the first evidence that astrocytes preferentially adhered to the composite material that contained the lowest weight percentage of carbon nanofibers. Positive interactions with neurons, and, at the same time, limited astrocyte functions leading to decreased gliotic scar tissue formation are essential for increased neuronal implant efficacy.

Hydrogels as Antibacterial Biomaterials

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 843-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiguo Xu ◽  
Shujun Dong ◽  
Yuping Han ◽  
Shuqiang Li ◽  
Yang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Oxygen Permeability ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
High Water ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Biomedical Field

Hydrogels, as a class of materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery, have high water content and solid-like mechanical properties. Currently, hydrogels with an antibacterial function are a research hotspot in biomedical field. Many advanced antibacterial hydrogels have been developed, each possessing unique qualities, namely high water swellability, high oxygen permeability, improved biocompatibility, ease of loading and releasing drugs and structural diversity. In this article, an overview is provided on the preparation and applications of various antibacterial hydrogels. Furthermore, the prospects in biomedical researches and clinical applications are predicted.

scholarly journals Porous scaffolds with the structure of an interpenetrating polymer network made by gelatin methacrylated nanoparticle-stabilized high internal phase emulsion polymerization targeted for tissue engineering

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (37) ◽  
pp. 22544-22555
Author(s):  
Atefeh Safaei-Yaraziz ◽  
Shiva Akbari-Birgani ◽  
Nasser Nikfarjam
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Polymer Network ◽  
Synthetic Polymers ◽  
Tissue Scaffolds ◽  
Interpenetrating Polymer Network ◽  
Porous Scaffolds ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Internal Phase

The interlacing of biopolymers and synthetic polymers is a promising strategy to fabricate hydrogel-based tissue scaffolds to biomimic a natural extracellular matrix for cell growth.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document