How to make heart cells grow
On the basis of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), scientists have developed a technology for the formation of an electrically conductive material to stimulate the growth of the heart and connective tissue cells. MIET scientists also took part in the research. Scientific studies have confirmed that laser-structured arrays of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with biopolymers are a promising material for a variety of biomedical applications.
The development of biocompatible materials with desired properties is a key task for medicine. Biocompatible conductive materials can be used in tissue engineering, for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging, as well as for biosensors developing. One of the promising directions here is the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) arrays coated with biocompatible polymers.
The group of scientists from Sechenov University developed a technology for the formation of an electrically conductive material based on vertical arrays of MWCNs grown on a silicon substrate.
The research was conducted with the help and on the basis of National Research University of Electronic Technology, Scientific and Manufacturing Complex "Technological Center", National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after. N.F.Gamaleya, National Medical Research Center for Hematology, as well as Saratov State University.
As a suitable biocompatible polymer the scientists used albumin – an important blood transport protein. To obtain biopolymer materials with contacts between nanotubes, vertical arrays were coated with albumin and subjected to laser irradiation. After that, the scientists studied the morphology of the obtained materials using electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. We should note that albumin coatings are often used to reduce the risk of thrombosis, and during laser processing, albumin firmly “sticks” to nanotubes, thereby increasing the stability of the material.
As part of the research, scientists have established the effect of laser radiation energy density on the morphology and electrical conductivity of the nanomaterial. The experiments proved the possibility of using the formed nanomaterials as interfaces for electrical stimulation of the growth of connective and cardiac tissue cells.
Laser-structured arrays of MWCNs with a biopolymeric albumin coating are expected to become a powerful driver for the development of a whole range of bioelectronic devices in the future, from biosensors to heart implants.