Thin films of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as suitable scaffold materials for stem cells proliferation and bone formation.
In the field of regenerative medicine, human mesenchymal stem cells envisage extremely promising applications, due to their ability to differentiate into a wide range of connective tissue species on the basis of the substrate on which they grow. For the first time ever reported, we investigated the effects of a thin film of pegylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes spray dried onto preheated coverslips in terms of their ability to influence human mesenchymal stem cells' proliferation, morphology, and final differentiation into osteoblasts. Results clearly indicated that the homogeneous layer of functionalized nanotubes did not show any cytotoxicity and accelerated cell differentiation to a higher extent than carboxylated nanotubes or uncoated coverslips, by creating a more viable microenvironment for stem cells. Interestingly, cell differentiation occurred even in the absence of additional biochemical inducing agents, as evidenced by multiple independent criteria at the transcriptional, protein expression, and functional levels. Taken together, these findings suggest that functionalized carbon nanotubes represent a suitable scaffold toward a very selective differentiation into bone.
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Block S15#05-PI-03, Singapore 117543.
Tapas R
TR
Nayak
Li
L
Jian
Lee C
LC
Phua
Han K
HK
Ho
Yupeng
Y
Ren
Giorgia
G
Pastorin
D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D008903:Minerals; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols