Fabrication of carbon nanotube nanocomposites via layer-by-layer assembly and evaluation in biomedical application.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of ion pairing of carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) and polycations on the layer-by-layer assembly of nanocomposites and their biocompatibility for biomedical applications.


METHODS
Strong polycation poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride), and weak polycations chitosan and polyethyleneimine were selected to assembly with MWCNT-COOH. The MWCNT-COOH/polycation nanocomposites were analyzed by their physicochemical, electrical properties and biocompatibility.


RESULTS
The ion pairing of CNTs/polyelectrocytes played a critical role in the layer-by-layer assembly. Strong interactions between MWCNTs and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) produced thicker nanocomposites with rougher surfaces, higher MWCNT mass and better conductance. All the MWCNT multilayered nanocomposites were of good biocompatibility.


CONCLUSIONS
The MWCNT multilayered nanocomposites hold high potential for biomedical applications.
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Han
H
Shao
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Peipei
P
Zhao
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Lin
L
Su
Center for Nanofibers & Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
Lingling
L
Tian
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Yongnu
Y
Zhang
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Yuqiao
Y
Sun
Siyuan Laboratory, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China.
Song
S
Yue
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Wei
W
Xue
Center for Nanofibers & Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Singapore.|Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Seeram
S
Ramakrishna
Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China.
Liumin
L
He
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008970:Molecular Weight; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011095:Polyethylenes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C041004:poly-N,N-dimethyl-N,N-diallylammonium chloride; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D048271:Chitosan
biocompatibility; carbon nanotubes; layer-by-layer assembly; polyelectrolytes