title: Understanding greater cardiomyocyte functions on aligned compared to random carbon nanofibers in PLGA.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated greater cardiomyocyte density on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) aligned (compared to randomly oriented) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composites. Although such studies demonstrated a closer mimicking of anisotropic electrical and mechanical properties for such aligned (compared to randomly oriented) CNFs in PLGA composites, the objective of the present in vitro study was to elucidate a deeper mechanistic understanding of how cardiomyocyte densities recognize such materials to respond more favorably. Results showed lower wettability (greater hydrophobicity) of CNFs embedded in PLGA compared to pure PLGA, thus providing evidence of selectively lower wettability in aligned CNF regions. Furthermore, the results correlated these changes in hydrophobicity with increased adsorption of fibronectin, laminin, and vitronectin (all proteins known to increase cardiomyocyte adhesion and functions) on CNFs in PLGA compared to pure PLGA, thus providing evidence of selective initial protein adsorption cues on such CNF regions to promote cardiomyocyte adhesion and growth. Lastly, results of the present in vitro study further confirmed increased cardiomyocyte functions by demonstrating greater expression of important cardiomyocyte biomarkers (such as Troponin-T, Connexin-43, and α-sarcomeric actin) when CNFs were aligned compared to randomly oriented in PLGA. In summary, this study provided evidence that cardiomyocyte functions are improved on CNFs aligned in PLGA compared to randomly oriented in PLGA since CNFs are more hydrophobic than PLGA and attract the adsorption of key proteins (fibronectin, laminin, and vironectin) that are known to promote cardiomyocyte adhesion and expression of important cardiomyocyte functions. Thus, future studies should use this knowledge to further design improved CNF:PLGA composites for numerous cardiovascular applications.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Asiri
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hadi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Marwani
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sher Bahadar
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D020107:Troponin T / Q000378:metabolism; D019096:Vitronectin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D018031:Connexin 43; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D020107:Troponin T; D019096:Vitronectin; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002244:Carbon
keywords: aligned; anisotropy; carbon nanofibers; cardiomyocytes; fibronectin; laminin; mechanism; nanotechnology; poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); vitronectin