Carbon nanotubes as structural nanofibers for hyaluronic acid hydrogel scaffolds.
We have successfully dispersed functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) within hyaluronic acid-water solutions. Hybrid hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels with SWNTs were then formed by cross-linking with divinyl sulfone. We have found a considerable change in the morphology of the lyophilized hybrid hydrogels compared to HA hydrogels. The high water uptake capacity, an important property of HA hydrogels, remained almost unchanged after 2 wt % SWNT (vs HA) incorporation, despite a dramatic enhancement in the dynamic mechanical properties of the hybrid hydrogels compared to native ones. We have found a 300% enhancement in the storage modulus of hybrid hydrogel with only 2 wt % of SWNTs vs HA (0.06 wt % vs total weight including water content). This apparent contradiction can be explained by a networking effect between SWNTs, mediated by HA chains. As in biological tissue, HA plays a dual role of matrix and linker for the rigid reinforcing nanofibers.
Bhattacharyya
Sanjib
S
Centre de Recherche sur la Matière Divisée, UMR 6619, CNRS-Université d'Orléans, 1b rue de la Férollerie, 45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France. sanjib@seas.upenn.edu
Guillot
Samuel
S
Dabboue
Hinda
H
Tranchant
Jean-François
JF
Salvetat
Jean-Paul
JP
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D020100:Hydrogels; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid