Multiwalled carbon nanotube reinforced biomimetic bundled gel fibres

Biomater Sci. 2016 Aug 19;4(8):1197-201. doi: 10.1039/c6bm00292g. Epub 2016 May 20.

Abstract

This work describes the fabrication and characterization of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)-based biomimetic bundled gel fibres. The bundled gel fibres were reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A phase-separated aqueous solution with MWCNT and HPC was transformed into a bundled fibrous structure after being injected into a co-flow microfluidic device and applying the sheath flow. The resulting MWCNT-bundled gel fibres consist of multiple parallel microfibres. The mechanical and electrical properties of MWCNT-bundled gel fibres were improved and their potential for tissue engineering applications as a cell scaffold was demonstrated.

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellulose / analogs & derivatives
  • Cellulose / chemistry
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Nanomedicine
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Engineering*
  • Tissue Scaffolds

Substances

  • Gels
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Cellulose
  • hydroxypropylcellulose