Zanello L.P., Sharma P., Corzano R., Hauschka P.
University of California Riverside, US
Keywords: bone, scaffold, single-walled carbon nanotubes
Production of bone materials is the result of secretory activities by osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells. In the fractured and wounded bone, successful repair and/or regeneration depends on the capacity of osteoblast precursors to proliferate and differentiate into mature osteoblasts as they interact with a scaffold material. We demonstrated recently that CNT scaffolds support osteoblast proliferation and production of mineralized bone in vitro. Here we studied osteoinductive properties of SWCNT scaffolds. Mouse MC3T3 E1 and human hFOB preosteoblasts were cultured on glass coverslips coated with SWCNTs, and their differentiation was induced with either mineralizing medium or high temperature (39ºC). We used electrically neutral (“as prepared”, AP-) SWCNTs, and SWCNTs chemically modified with carboxyl (-COOH, net negative electric charge), polyethylene glycol (PEG, electrically neutral), and poly-(m-amino-benzene sulfonic acid, PABS, net positive and negative electric charges) functional groups. We assessed osteogenic differentiation by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and expression of voltage-gated chloride channels ClC-3 and ClC-5 involved in secretory activities. We found that electrically neutral and zwitterionic CNTs are better inducers of bone formation than negatively charged scaffolds. SWCNT preparations might be seen as osteoinductive materials with great potential for use in bone regeneration and repair.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Nanotechnology 2008: Materials, Fabrication, Particles, and Characterization – Technical Proceedings of the 2008 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: June 1, 2008
Pages: 75 - 77
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topic: Carbon Nano Structures & Devices
ISBN: 978-1-4200-8503-7