| Abstract Scope |
Engineered scaffolds for tissue engineering are expected to provide not only structural support for the targeted cells, but also suitable microenvironments for them to attach, proliferate, migrate and differentiate. This talk will focus on bio-inspired all-carbon scaffolds comprising of tailored carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays covalently bonded to porous carbon substrates. Graphitic carbon is biocompatible and electrically conducting, and these nanotubes are known to effectively guide cell growth. However, loose CNTs added to polymeric matrices in composite scaffolds are susceptible to disintegration and intracellular uptake and maybe cytotoxic. This risk is suppressed in these hybrid materials, which synergize the nanoscale and micro-scale advantages in a single continuous solid, as seen in native biological organs. Design, fabrication and characterization of these scaffolds and their interaction with selected cell lines will be discussed along with surface engineering options to tailor them for optimal functioning in cellular environments for skin, brain, and muscle implants. |