title: Carbon nanotubes promote growth and spontaneous electrical activity in cultured cardiac myocytes.
abstract: Nanoscale manipulations of the extracellular microenvironment are increasingly attracting attention in tissue engineering. Here, combining microscopy, biological, and single-cell electrophysiological methodologies, we demonstrate that neonatal rat ventricular myocytes cultured on substrates of multiwall carbon nanotubes interact with carbon nanotubes by forming tight contacts and show increased viability and proliferation. Furthermore, we observed changes in the electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes, suggesting that carbon nanotubes are able to promote cardiomyocyte maturation.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cellot
authors.forename: Francesca Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Carlin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zentilin
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacca
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mestroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon