Osteoblasts response to nylon 6,6 blended with single-walled carbon nanohorn.

Bioactivity is an important aspect that can be appropriately used to tune the cellular interactions occurring at the biomaterial-physiological interface. In this regard, we explore here the nano- or quantum-size effects of a highly dispersible nanostructured carbon present in the void space between the polymers chains (Nylon 6,6) in modulating the cellular functions when osteoblasts are seeded on biocompatible substrates. The filling-up of void space in polymer facilitates filopodia to access the extracellular matrix, enabling integrin receptors to bind to the artificial biomedical device, promoting cellular interactions. In this regard, the fundamental principles of materials processing and cellular biology were combined to elucidate the mechanism of cell-substrate interactions and the molecular machinery controlling the cell response. This is accomplished by investigating cell attachment, proliferation, and morphology, including cytomorphometry evaluation and quantitative assessment of prominent proteins, actin, vinculin, and fibronectin that are sensitive to cell-substrate interactions.

Cellular interactions and stimulated biological functions mediated by nanostructured carbon for tissue reconstruction and tracheal tubes and sutures.

Nylon 6,6 is used for biological applications including gastrointestinal segments, tracheal tubes and sutures, vascular graft, and for hard tissue reconstruction. While it is a relatively inexpensive polymer, it is not widely acceptable as a preferred biomaterial because of bioactivity. To this end, we have discovered the exciting evidence that introduction of a novel nanostructured carbon, graphene, in the void space between the nylon chains and processing at elevated pressure favorably stimulates cellular functions and provides high degree of cytocompatibility. The cell-substrate interactions on stand alone Nylon 6,6 and Nylon 6,6-graphene oxide hybrid system were investigated in terms of cell attachment, viability, proliferation, and assessment of proteins, actin, vinculin, and fibronectin. The enhanced biological functions in the nanostructured hybrid system are attributed to relatively superior hydrophilicity of the surface and to the presence of graphene. Furthermore, it is proposed that the negatively charged graphene interacts with the polar nature of cells and the culture medium, such that the interaction is promoted through polar forces. This is accomplished by investigating cell attachment, proliferation, and morphology, including cytomorphometry evaluation, and quantitative assessment of prominent proteins, actin, vinculin, and fibronectin that are sensitive to cell-substrate interactions. Osteoblasts were studied to establish the practical viability of the hybrid nanostructured biomaterial. The study strengthens the foundation for utilizing nano- or quantum-size effects of nanostructured biomaterials.