title: Imaging, spectroscopy, mechanical, alignment and biocompatibility studies of electrospun medical grade polyurethane (Carbothane™ 3575A) nanofibers and composite nanofibers containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: In the present study, we discuss the electrospinning of medical grade polyurethane (Carbothane™ 3575A) nanofibers containing multi-walled-carbon-nanotubes (MWCNTs). A simple method that does not depend on additional foreign chemicals has been employed to disperse MWCNTs through high intensity sonication. Typically, a polymer solution consisting of polymer/MWCNTs has been electrospun to form nanofibers. Physiochemical aspects of prepared nanofibers were evaluated by SEM, TEM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, confirming nanofibers containing MWCNTs. The biocompatibility and cell attachment of the produced nanofiber mats were investigated while culturing them in the presence of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. The results from these tests indicated non-toxic behavior of the prepared nanofiber mats and had a significant attachment of cells towards nanofibers. The incorporation of MWCNTs into polymeric nanofibers led to an improvement in tensile stress from 11.40 ± 0.9 to 51.25 ± 5.5 MPa. Furthermore, complete alignment of the nanofibers resulted in an enhancement on tensile stress to 72.78 ± 5.5 MPa. Displaying these attributes of high mechanical properties and non-toxic nature of nanofibers are recommended for an ideal candidate for future tendon and ligament grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA; Nano-Bio Regenerative Medical Institute, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200-702, South Korea. Electronic address: faheem99in@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Faheem A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. Electronic address: jmacossay@utpa.edu.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macossay
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Xujun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shamshi Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esther Salinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Chakavak S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Farhangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Energy and Environment Fusion Technology Center, Department of Energy and Biotechnology, Myongji University, Yongin, Kyonggi-do 449-728, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hern
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bowlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004560:Electricity; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011140:Polyurethanes
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Dispersion; Electrospinning; Mechanical properties; Nanofibers