A cytotoxicity study of silicon oxycarbide nanowires as cell scaffold for biomedical applications.
OBJECTIVE
Nanowires are promising biomaterials in multiple clinical applications. The goal of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of carbon-doped silica nanowires (SiOxCyNWs) on a fibroblastic cell line in vitro.


METHODS
SiOxCyNWs were grown on Si substrates by CVD process. Murine L929 fibroblasts were cultured in complete DMEM and indirect and direct cytotoxicity tests were performed in agreement with ISO 19003-5, by quantitating cell viability at MTT and chemiluminescent assay. Cell cultures were investigated at Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and immunocytochemistry to observe their morphology and investigate cell-NWs interactions. Furthermore, hemocompatibility with Platelet-rich Plasma was assayed at SEM and by ELISA assay.


RESULTS
SiOxCy NWs proved biocompatible and did not impair cell proliferation at contact assays. L929 were able to attach on NWs and proliferate. Most interestingly, L929 reorganised the NW scaffold by displacing the nanostructure and creating tunnels within the NW network. NWs moreover did not impair platelet activation and behaved similarly to flat SiO2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that SiOxCy NWs did not release cytotoxic species and acted as a viable and adaptable scaffold for fibroblastic cells, thus representing a promising platform for implantable devices.
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Lagonegro
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Rossi
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: carlo.galli@unipr.it.
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Galli
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Smerieri
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Alinovi
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Pinelli
Physics and Earth Science Department, Parma University, Parco Area delle Scienze 7/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Rimoldi
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Attolini
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Macaluso
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Parma University, via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Macaluso
Electrical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, ENB118 Tampa, Florida, USA.
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Saddow
IMEM-CNR Institute, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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Salviati
D000818:Animals; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053770:Nanowires / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D017640:Silicates / Q000633:toxicity*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D019007:P-Selectin; D017640:Silicates
Biocompatibility testing; Fibroblasts; Hemocompatibility testing; Nanowires