title: Effect of multiwall carbon nanotube reinforcement on coaxially extruded cellular vascular conduits.
abstract: Due to its abundant source, good biocompatibility, low price and mild crosslinking process, alginate is an ideal selection for tissue engineering applications. In this work, alginate vascular conduits were fabricated through a coaxial extrusion-based system. However, due to the inherent weak mechanical properties of alginate, the vascular conduits are not capable of biomimicking natural vascular system. In this paper, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were used to reinforce vascular conduits. Mechanical, dehydration, swelling and degradation tests were performed to understand influences of MWCNT reinforcement. The unique mechanical properties together with perfusion and diffusional capability are two important factors to mimic the nature. Thus, perfusion experiments were also conducted to explore the MWCNT reinforcement effect. In addition, cell viability and tissue histology were conducted to evaluate the biological performance of conduits both in short and long term for MWCNT reinforcement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Biomanufacturing Laboratory, Center for Computer-Aided Design, The University of Iowa, 139 Engineering Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Yahui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Biomanufacturing Laboratory, Center for Computer-Aided Design, The University of Iowa, 139 Engineering Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Biomanufacturing Laboratory, Center for Computer-Aided Design, The University of Iowa, 139 Engineering Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dolati
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Biomanufacturing Laboratory, Center for Computer-Aided Design, The University of Iowa, 139 Engineering Research Facility, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Electronic address: ibrahim-ozbolat@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Ibrahim T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Ozbolat
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: Artificial vascular constructs; Biofabrication; Carbon nanotubes; Tissue engineering