Modulating cell adhesion dynamics on carbon nanotube monolayer engineered with extracellular matrix proteins
Ning Cai1, Chee C Wong, Ying X Gong
1School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Functionalizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with extracellular matrix proteins significantly enhances primary porcine esophageal fibroblast (PEF) adhesion and proliferation, crucial for novel cell therapeutics and biomaterials in tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique physical properties suitable for tissue engineering.
- Understanding cell adhesion mechanisms on CNTs is vital for developing new cell therapeutics devices.
- Limited knowledge exists on primary porcine esophageal fibroblast (PEF) adhesion dynamics on CNT monolayers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adhesion mechanisms of PEFs on CNT monolayers.
- To evaluate the impact of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein functionalization (collagen type I and fibronectin) on CNT biocompatibility.
- To explore the potential of functionalized CNTs for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Confocal reflectance interference contrast microscopy (C-RICM) and phase contrast microscopy were used to study cell adhesion dynamics.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterized the topographical features of functionalized CNT monolayers.
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunostaining assessed cell morphology and actin organization.
Main Results:
- ECM protein functionalization altered CNT monolayer topography.
- Fibronectin (FN) functionalization reduced cell adhesion time lag compared to unmodified CNTs and collagen (COL) functionalized CNTs.
- Functionalized CNTs (CNT-COL and CNT-FN) exhibited significantly higher PEF adhesion energy and improved cell seeding efficiency and proliferation rates compared to unmodified CNT monolayers.
- PEFs showed elongated morphology and polarized actin networks on functionalized CNTs, unlike on unmodified CNTs.
Conclusions:
- Biophysical responses and biological behavior of PEFs differ on unmodified versus ECM protein-functionalized CNT monolayers.
- ECM protein immobilization on CNT monolayers effectively promotes cell adhesion and proliferation.
- These findings provide valuable insights for designing CNT-based biomaterials and cell therapeutics devices.
More Related Videos
14:46Dendrimer-based Uneven Nanopatterns to Locally Control Surface Adhesiveness: A Method to Direct Chondrogenic Differentiation
Published on: January 20, 2018
07:50Preparation of Tunable Extracellular Matrix Microenvironments to Evaluate Schwann Cell Phenotype Specification
Published on: June 2, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...
