Stem Cell Impregnated Carbon Nanofibers/Nanotubes for Healing Damaged Neural Tissue
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0915-R01-07
Stem Cell Impregnated Carbon Nanofibers/Nanotubes for Healing Damaged Neural Tissue Jong Eun Lee1, Dongwoo Khang2, Yong Eul Kim1, and Thomas Jay Webster2 1 Anatomy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 2 Engineering, Brown University, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912 ABSTRACT Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are intriguing materials for medical applications due to their unique mechanical, electrical, and surface properties which have been shown to enhance in vitro neural cell functions compared to other central nervous system implant materials such as silicon. The objective of this in vivo study was to determine if stem cells can be combined with carbon nanofibers in the treatment of stroke damaged neural tissue in rats. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic carbon nanofibers were mixed with stem cells and implanted into stroke damaged brains of rats for up to 3 weeks. Results demonstrated the ability of stem cells to differentiate into neurons when injected with either hydrophobic or hydrophilic carbon nanofibers into stroke damaged neural tissue. Hydrophobic nanofibers increased stem cell differentiation more than hydrophilic carbon nanofibers. Moreover, little scar tissue formation was observed surrounding both types of carbon nanofibers when implanted into the brain. Such results indicate promise for the use of carbon nanofibers as novel stem cell delivery vehicles for treating stroke damaged neural tissue. INTRODUCTION Numerous neurological disorders and injuries (such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc.) require a biomaterial to recreate electrical activity in damaged neural tissue. For these reasons, carbon nanofibers/nanotubes have been of interest since they are electrically active and can be formulated to match the dimensions of components of brain tissue (such as laminin) [1-5]. Previous in vitro studies have measured increased neurite and axonal outgrowth from neurons on carbon nanofibers compared to currently-used nervous system implants such as silicon [3]. In addition, in vitro studies have reported decreased functions of astrocytes (cells which when over stimulated synthesize unwanted glial scar tissue) on carbon nanofibers compared to silicon [3]. Lastly, other in vitro studies have examined the potential use of carbon nanofibers in orthopedic applications measuring increased in vitro bone formation and decreased scar tissue formation on carbon nanofibers compared to conventional materials used in orthopedics such as titanium [4]. This has been attributed to their unique surface energetics capable of promoting the adsorption of proteins important for mediating cell adhesion [1-5]. However, few in vivo studies have been conducted with carbon nanofibers, especially in the central nervous system. For this reason, this objective of the present in vivo study was to determine the ability of carbon nanofibers impregnated with stem cells to heal stroke damaged neural tissue in rats. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Carbon nanofibers were obtained from Applied Sciences (Xenia, O
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