title: Enhancing the nanomaterial bio-interface by addition of mesoscale secondary features: crinkling of carbon nanotube films to create subcellular ridges.
abstract: Biological cells often interact with their local environment through subcellular structures at a scale of tens to hundreds of nanometers. This study investigated whether topographic features fabricated at a similar scale would impact cellular functions by promoting the interaction between subcellular structures and nanomaterials. Crinkling of carbon nanotube films by solvent-induced swelling and shrinkage of substrate resulted in the formation of ridge features at the subcellular scale on both flat and three-dimensional substrates. Biological cells grown upon these crinkled CNT films had enhanced activity: neuronal cells grew to higher density and displayed greater cell polarization; exoelectrogenic micro-organisms transferred electrons more efficiently. The results indicate that crinkling of thin CNT films creates secondary mesoscale features that enhance attachment, growth, and electron transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University , 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Wenting
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hye Ryoung
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Bianxiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Criddle
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012997:Solvents
keywords: bio-interface; coatings; microbial fuel cells; neuron; solvent-based process