title: Poly(ε-caprolactone)-carbon nanotube composite scaffolds for enhanced cardiac differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of electrically conductive, biocompatible composite scaffolds in modulating the cardiomyogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Electrospun scaffolds of poly(ε-caprolactone) with or without carbon nanotubes were developed to promote the in vitro cardiac differentiation of hMSCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate that hMSC differentiation can be enhanced by either culturing in electrically conductive, carbon nanotube-containing composite scaffolds without electrical stimulation in the presence of 5-azacytidine, or extrinsic electrical stimulation in nonconductive poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds without carbon nanotube and azacytidine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a first step towards improving hMSC cardiomyogenic differentiation for local delivery into the infarcted myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Spencer W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Crowder
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Rutwik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maltais
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Pintauro
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hofmeister
authors.forename: Chee C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Xintong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hak-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone