title: Clay nanotube-biopolymer composite scaffolds for tissue engineering.
abstract: Porous biopolymer hydrogels doped at 3-6 wt% with 50 nm diameter/0.8 μm long natural clay nanotubes were produced without any cross-linkers using the freeze-drying method. The enhancement of mechanical strength (doubled pick load), higher water uptake and thermal properties in chitosan-gelatine-agarose hydrogels doped with halloysite was demonstrated. SEM and AFM imaging has shown the even distribution of nanotubes within the scaffolds. We used enhanced dark-field microscopy to visualise the distribution of halloysite nanotubes in the implantation area. In vitro cell adhesion and proliferation on the nanocomposites occur without changes in viability and cytoskeleton formation. In vivo biocompatibility and biodegradability evaluation in rats has confirmed that the scaffolds promote the formation of novel blood vessels around the implantation sites. The scaffolds show excellent resorption within six weeks after implantation in rats. Neo-vascularization observed in newly formed connective tissue placed near the scaffold allows for the complete restoration of blood flow. These phenomena indicate that the halloysite-doped scaffolds are biocompatible as demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The chitosan-gelatine-agarose doped clay nanotube nanocomposite scaffolds fabricated in this work are promising candidates for tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kreml uramı 18, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420008, Russian Federation. kazanbio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ekaterina A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Naumenko
authors.affiliation: Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kreml uramı 18, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420008, Russian Federation. kazanbio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ivan D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Guryanov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, 911 Hergot Ave., Ruston, LA 71272, USA.
authors.forename: Raghuvara
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yendluri
authors.affiliation: Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kreml uramı 18, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420008, Russian Federation. kazanbio@gmail.com and Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, 911 Hergot Ave., Ruston, LA 71272, USA.
authors.forename: Yuri M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lvov
authors.affiliation: Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kreml uramı 18, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420008, Russian Federation. kazanbio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rawil F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Fakhrullin
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D000077215:Clay; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers; D000077215:Clay