Establishing Age-calibrated Normative PROMIS Scores for Hand and Upper Extremity Clinic.

Unlabelled: The purpose of our study is to investigate differences in normative PROMIS upper extremity function (PROMIS-UE), physical function (PROMIS-PF), and pain interference (PROMIS-PI) scores across age cohorts in individuals without upper extremity disability.

Methods: Individuals without upper extremity disability were prospectively enrolled. Subjects were administered PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI forms.

Nanoengineered carbon scaffolds for hydrogen storage.

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) fibers were engineered to become a scaffold for the storage of hydrogen. Carbon nanotube fibers were swollen in oleum (fuming sulfuric acid), and organic spacer groups were covalently linked between the nanotubes using diazonium functionalization chemistry to provide 3-dimensional (3-D) frameworks for the adsorption of hydrogen molecules. These 3-D nanoengineered fibers physisorb twice as much hydrogen per unit surface area as do typical macroporous carbon materials.

In vitro cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotube/biodegradable polymer nanocomposites.

Injectable nanocomposites made of biodegradable poly(propylene fumarate) and the crosslinking agent propylene fumarate-diacrylate as well as each of three forms of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity. Unreacted components, crosslinked networks, and degradation products of the nanocomposites were investigated for their effects on cell viability using a fibroblast cell line in vitro. The results did not reveal any in vitro cytotoxicity for purified SWNTs, SWNTs functionalized with 4-tert-butylphenylene, and ultra-short SWNTs at 1- 100 microg/mL concentrations.

"Hairy" single-walled carbon nanotubes prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization.

"Hairy nano-objects" are hybrid nanostructures comprising a core surrounded by a "hairlike" corona of flexible polymer chains, the role of which is typically to improve the solubility of the core material or to improve its dispersability and adhesion in other polymer matrices. Both aspects could be particularly useful with carbon nanotubes, especially in their applications as reinforcing agents. The controlled synthesis of hairy carbon nanotubes is accomplished by chemical modification with 2-bromopropionate followed by extension with poly(n-butyl acrylate) through atom transfer radical polymerization.

Injectable nanocomposites of single-walled carbon nanotubes and biodegradable polymers for bone tissue engineering.

We have investigated the dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and functionalized SWNTs (F-SWNTs) in the unsaturated, biodegradable polymer poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and examined the rheological properties of un-cross-linked nanocomposite formulations as well as the electrical and mechanical properties of cross-linked nanocomposites. F-SWNTs were produced from individual SWNTs by a diazonium-based method and dispersed better than unmodified SWNTs in both un-cross-linked and cross-linked PPF matrix. Cross-linked nanocomposites with F-SWNTs were superior to those with unmodified SWNTs in terms of their mechanical properties.

Biocompatibility of native and functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for neuronal interface.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have unique mechanical, electrical, and optical properties and can be easily chemically modified; features that make them excellent candidate materials for applications as sensors and stimulators in neuronal tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that SWNTs can support neuronal attachment and growth, that simple chemical modifications can be employed to control cell growth, that SWNTs do not interfere with ongoing neuronal function, and that neurons can be electrically coupled to SWNTs. Growth and attachment of the neuroblastoma*glioma NG108, a model neuronal cell, was assessed on unmodified SWNT substrates or substrates from SWNTs modified with 4-benzoic acid or 4-tert-butylphenyl functional groups using a simple functionalization method.

Green chemical functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes in ionic liquids.

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are exfoliated and functionalized predominantly as individuals by grinding them for minutes at room temperature with aryldiazonium salts in the presence of ionic liquids (ILs) and K(2)CO(3). This constitutes an extremely rapid and mild green chemical functionalization process for obtaining the individualized nanotube structures. A number of ILs and various reaction conditions were surveyed.

Functionalization density dependence of single-walled carbon nanotubes cytotoxicity in vitro.

The cytotoxic response of cells in culture is dependant on the degree of functionalization of the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). After characterizing a set of water-dispersible SWNTs, we performed in vitro cytotoxicity screens on cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). The SWNT samples used in this exposure include SWNT-phenyl-SO(3)H and SWNT-phenyl-SO(3)Na (six samples with carbon/-phenyl-SO(3)X ratios of 18, 41, and 80), SWNT-phenyl-(COOH)(2) (one sample with carbon/-phenyl-(COOH)(2) ratio of 23), and underivatized SWNT stabilized in 1% Pluronic F108.

Rheological behaviour and mechanical characterization of injectable poly(propylene fumarate)/single-walled carbon nanotube composites for bone tissue engineering.

This work investigated the effects of the use of a surfactant or the functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on their dispersion in uncrosslinked poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and the mechanical reinforcement of crosslinked composites as a function of the SWNT concentration. Rheological measurements showed good dispersion of SWNTs in uncrosslinked PPF at low concentrations of 0.05 wt% and SWNT aggregation for higher concentrations for all formulations examined.

Water-soluble, exfoliated, nonroping single-wall carbon nanotubes.

The scalable superacid solvent, radical-initiated aryldiazonium functionalization process produces individual SWNTs without the need for surfactant wrapping, centrifugation, or sonication. This work provides a facile pathway to aryl sulfonic acid-functionalized SWNTs that are not roped or bundled, and the functionalized nanotubes are water soluble.