Dielectrophoretically aligned carbon nanotubes to control electrical and mechanical properties of hydrogels to fabricate contractile muscle myofibers

Adv Mater. 2013 Aug 7;25(29):4028-34. doi: 10.1002/adma.201301300. Epub 2013 Jun 25.

Abstract

Dielectrophoresis is used to align carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels in a facile and rapid manner. Aligned GelMA-CNT hydrogels show higher electrical properties compared with pristine and randomly distributed CNTs in GelMA hydrogels. The muscle cells cultured on these materials demonstrate higher maturation compared with cells cultured on pristine and randomly distributed CNTs in GelMA hydrogels.

Keywords: carbon nanotubes; dielectrophoresis; electrical conductivity; gelatin methacrylate hydrogel; muscle cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemical synthesis*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrophoresis / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Mice
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure*
  • Tensile Strength
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Nanotubes, Carbon