Hydrogel Composites Containing Carbon Nanobrushes as Tissue Scaffolds
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Hydrogel Composites Containing Carbon Nanobrushes as Tissue Scaffolds William H. Marks1, Sze C. Yang2, George W. Dombi2 and Sujata K. Bhatia1 1 Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. 2 University of Rhode Island, Chemistry Department, Kingston, RI 02881, U.S.A. ABSTRACT The objective of this work is to examine the feasibility of electrically conductive hydrogel composites as scaffolds in tissue engineering and tissue regeneration, and to understand the properties of the composites as a growth matrix for clinically relevant cell lines. The composite is comprised of carbon nanobrushes embedded in a biocompatible poloxamer gel. This work assesses the ability of such composite gels to support the growth of fibroblasts and myocytes and eventually serve as a matrix to stimulate wound closure. In such a model, fibroblasts and myocytes are seeded on the hydrogel and bathed in culture medium. The experimental model assesses the ability of fibroblasts and myocytes to grow into and adhere to the gel. The work demonstrates that carbon nanobrushes can be dispersed within poloxamer gels, and that fibroblasts and myocytes can proliferate within homogenously dispersed carbon nanobrush-containing poloxamer gels. This work also examines the effects of carbon nanobrush content on the rheological properties of the poloxamer gel matrix and shows an improvement in several areas in the presence of carbon nanobrushes. Future work will examine the effects of design parameters such as carbon nanobrush content and matrix structure on wound healing, as well as the growth of tendons and other cell lines within the hydrogel composites. This work has relevance for tissue and cellular engineering and tissue regeneration in clinical medicine. INTRODUCTION Hydrogels provide three-dimensional encapsulating scaffolds similar to the environment found in vivo in which cells can maintain normal functioning and exhibit tissue growth while being easily examined [1]. Pluronic F-127 poloxamer is a reverse phase change triblock copolymer mixture of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide (PEO101-PPO56-PEO101) that is hydrophilic and non-ionic. The traditional in vitro “scar in a jar” model for wound healing, in which two pieces of excised tendon tissue are suspended within a hydrogel and observed for tissue growth between the tendons, utilizes collagen as a hydrogel base; however, poloxamer hydrogel may be a viable replacement for collagen in the “scar in a jar” model, if poloxamer hydrogels can support fibroblast and tendon growth [2]. It has been shown that an alginate gel with embedded carbon nanotubes provided a platform for tissue engineering with a mild inflammatory response and no cytotoxicity [3]; such gels additionally exhibit electrical conductivity [4]. Other studies have also shown that an in vitro collagen matrix provided sufficient support with enough room for fibroblast movement to study adhesion and activity during flexor tendon healing [5]. 3D hydrogels have been produced by electrospinni
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