title: Cytocompatibility of a conductive nanofibrous carbon nanotube/poly (L-Lactic acid) composite scaffold intended for nerve tissue engineering.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to fabricate a conductive aligned nanofibrous substrate and evaluate its suitability and cytocompatibility with neural cells for nerve tissue engineering purposes. In order to reach these goals, we first used electrospinning to fabricate single-walled carbon-nanotube (SWCNT) incorporated poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous scaffolds and then assessed its cytocompatibility with olfactory ensheathing glial cells (OEC). The plasma treated scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and water contact angle. OECs were isolated from olfactory bulb of GFP Sprague-Dawley rats and characterized using OEC specific markers via immunocytochemistry and flow cytometery. The cytocompatibility of the conductive aligned nano-featured scaffold was assessed using microscopy and MTT assay. We indicate that doping of PLLA polymer with SWCNT can augment the aligned nanosized substrate with conductivity, making it favorable for nerve tissue engineering. Our results demonstrated that SWCNT/PLLA composite scaffold promote the adhesion, growth, survival and proliferation of OEC. Regarding the ideal physical, topographical and electrical properties of the scaffold and the neurotrophic and migratory features of the OECs, we suggest this scaffold and the cell/scaffold construct as a promising platform for cell delivery to neural defects in nerve tissue engineering approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahboubeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kabiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran ; Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oraee-Yazdani
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dodel
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanaee-Ahvaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seyedjafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
keywords: Nerve tissue engineering; carbon nanotube; composite scaffold; electrospun nanofiber; olfactory ensheathing cells