Highly efficient mesenchymal stem cell proliferation on poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibers with embedded magnetic nanoparticles.

In this study, we have developed a combined approach to accelerate the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro, using a new nanofibrous scaffold made by needleless electrospinning from a mixture of poly-ε-caprolactone and magnetic particles. The biological characteristics of porcine MSCs were investigated while cultured in vitro on composite scaffold enriched with magnetic nanoparticles. Our data indicate that due to the synergic effect of the poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibers and magnetic particles, cellular adhesion and proliferation of MSCs is enhanced and osteogenic differentiation is supported.

Structure and magnetic response of a residual metal catalyst in highly purified single walled carbon nanotubes.

This article presents methods for detailed physical analysis of partial steps leading to the removal of residual metal catalyst nanoparticles (NPs) from single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and options for detecting negligible amounts of metal in samples possessing diamagnetic response. Based on the previous knowledge of the composition, structure and magnetic properties of NPs included in the commercial HiPco_raw and HiPco_SP SWCNTs, the properties of remaining NPs after the multi-step purification (oxidation followed by mild acid treatment) and annealing both under static and dynamic vacuum have been investigated. Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, static and dynamic magnetic property measurements and the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) experiments have been performed.