title: Effects of laminin-coated carbon nanotube/chitosan fibers on guided neurite growth.
abstract: This study assesses the ability and potential of carbon nanotube (CNT)/chitosan to guide axon re-growth after nerve injuries. The CNT/chitosan fibers were produced via the coagulation and hydrodynamic focusing method. Fiber width and morphology were adjusted using such parameters as syringe pumping rate and the coagulant used. The CNT/chitosan fiber diameters were 50-300 μm for syringe pumping rates of 6-48 mL/h. Polyethylene glycol/NaOH (25%, w/w) solution was a suitable coagulant for forming fibers with small diameters. Physical property tests demonstrate that the CNT/chitosan composites had superior tensile strength and electrical conductivity compared with those of chitosan alone. The MTT and LDH tests reveal that CNT/chitosan composites were not cytotoxic. To improve the neural cell affinity of CNT/chitosan fibers, laminin was incorporated onto fiber surfaces via the oxygen plasma technique; cell adhesion ratio increased significantly from 3.5% to 72.2% with this surface modification. Immunofluorescence staining and SEM imaging indicate that PC12 cells adhered successfully and grew on the laminin (LN)-coated CNT/chitosan films and fibers. Experimental results show that PC12 grown on LN-coated CNT/chitosan fibers in vitro extend longitudinally oriented neurites in a manner similar to that of native peripheral nerves. With the inherent electrical properties of CNTs, oriented CNT/chitosan fibers have a potential for use as nerve conduits in nerve tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City, Taiwan. ychuang@mail.ntou.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yi-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sung-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Wen-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Cheng-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chang-Chien
authors.forename: Henrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yi-You
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D016501:Neurites; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D007797:Laminin; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D048271:Chitosan