title: Biocompatibility of nanostructured boron doped diamond for the attachment and proliferation of human neural stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We quantitatively investigate the biocompatibility of chemical vapour deposited (CVD) nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) after the inclusion of boron, with and without nanostructuring. The nanostructuring method involves a novel approach of growing NCD over carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that act as a 3D scaffold. This nanostructuring of BNCD leads to a material with increased capacitance, and this along with wide electrochemical window makes BNCD an ideal material for neural interface applications, and thus it is essential that their biocompatibility is investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biocompatibility was assessed by observing the interaction of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) with a variety of NCD substrates including un-doped ones, and NCD doped with boron, which are both planar, and nanostructured. hNSCs were chosen due to their sensitivity, and various methods including cell population and confluency were used to quantify biocompatibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Boron inclusion into NCD film was shown to have no observable effect on hNSC attachment, proliferation and viability. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of nanostructured boron-doped NCD is increased upon nanostructuring, potentially due to the increased surface area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diamond is an attractive material for supporting the attachment and development of cells as it can show exceptional biocompatibility. When boron is used as a dopant within diamond it becomes a p-type semiconductor, and at high concentrations the diamond becomes quasi-metallic, offering the prospect of a direct electrical device-cell interfacing system.
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Electronic and Electrical and Engineering, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH, UK.
authors.forename: Alice C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vagaska
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edgington
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergonzo
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jackman
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001895:Boron / Q000737:chemistry; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018130:Diamond; D001895:Boron