Study of the adsorption behaviors of plasma proteins on the single-walled carbon nanotubes nonwoven / 生物医学工程学杂志

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have attracted increasing research interests for the purpose of biomedical application because they provide not only nanostructured topography, but also chemical composition of pure carbon atoms, as well as ultra high strength and excellent flexibility. Regarding the interactions of nanomaterials to biological systems, non-specific adsorption of plasma proteins is one of the most important issues to be concerned, which plays a crucial role that would determine how biological systems response to the biomaterials. Motivated by application of SWNT materials in biomedical fields, in this study, the adsorption behaviors of plasma proteins on the surface of SWNT nonwoven, prepared directly by floating chemical vapor observation and energy deposition method were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and ELISA. Results indicated the SWNT non-woven showed a clear adsorption preference of fibrinogen over albumin. There was no human serum albumin detected using above analysis methods on the SWNT nonwoven even incubated in the albumin solution of 4 mg/ml. While more than 0.15 microg of human fibrinogen was detected by ELISA on the SWNT nonwoven with area of 40 mm x 40 mm incubated in the fibrinogen solution of 5 microg/ml. In addition, IgG of sheep-anti-human serum fibrinogen exhibited strong nonspecific adsorption on the surface of SWNT nonwoven. The adsorption behaviors are different significantly from those of other carbon materials and conventional biomaterials. The unique interaction of SWNT nonwoven to plasma proteins is of significance to further studies of blood cells responses.

Research and development of biomedical application of carbon nanotubes and related composites / 生物医学工程学杂志

Carbon nanotubes, a new member of the carbon material family, can be considered as graphite sheets rolled-up into cylinders with diameters ranging in the nanometer scale. In recent years, carbon nanotubes have attracted intensive interests because of their unique nanostructures and outstanding mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties. In this paper, the structures and basic features of carbon nanotubes were described in brief. The research advances in the carbon nanotubes on the specific recognition of biomolecules by surface modification and functionalization, in the enhancement to cell growth as culture scaffolds in vitro, and in the improvement of biocompatibility for implantable biomedical material were reviewed. Also comments were made on their potential applications in biomedical sensor and biomedical microelectrics.