title: Enhancement of primary neuronal cell proliferation using printing-transferred carbon nanotube sheets.
abstract: Artificial nerve guidance conduits (aNGCs) prepared from polymer scaffolds and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique chemical and physical properties, and have been widely used in preclinical trials to promote neuronal differentiation and growth. However, there have been only a few reports on the clinical applicability of CNT sheets for proliferation of primary neuronal cells due to safety concerns. The present study assesses the ability and potential applicability of multiwalled CNTs (MWNTs) composited with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheets to promote and enhance the proliferation of primary neuronal cells. In this study, the aqueous MWNT dispersion was filtered, and the PDMS/MWNT sheets were prepared using a simple printing transfer method. Characterization of PDMS/MWNT sheets demonstrated their unique physical properties such as superior mechanical strength and electroconductivity when compared with PDMS sheets. The effect of the PDMS/MWNT sheets on the neural cell proliferation and cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT and alamar blue assays. Our results indicate the viability and proliferation of primary neuronal cells and Schwann cells in PDMS/MWNT sheets increased over twice when compared with a noncoated dish that is not usual in the primary neuronal cell growth control (p < 0.05). In addition, PDMS/MWNT sheets enhanced the adhesion and viability of the cells compared with poly-l-lysine coated dishes, which are most commonly used for improving cell adherence. Additionally, the PDMS/MWNT sheets exhibited excellent biocompatibility for culturing neuronal and Schwann cells. Overall, all assessments indicate that PDMS/MWNT sheets are ideal candidates for the development of artificial nerve conduits for clinical use following peripheral nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital and School of Medicine, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yoon Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Fengming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Won-Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung-Kwan
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kwangnak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Jaebeom
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011327:Printing; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C013830:baysilon
keywords: artificial nerve guidance conduits; carbon nanotube; polydimethylsiloxane; primary neuronal cell growth control; proliferation; viability