Bioinspired Hierarchical Carbon Structures as Potential Scaffolds for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration Applications.

Engineered bio-scaffolds for wound healing provide an attractive treatment option for tissue engineering and traumatic skin injuries since they can reduce dependence on donors and promote faster repair through strategic surface engineering. Current scaffolds present limitations in handling, preparation, shelf life, and sterilization options. In this study, bio-inspired hierarchical all-carbon structures comprising carbon nanotube (CNT) carpets covalently bonded to flexible carbon fabric have been investigated as a platform for cell growth and future tissue regeneration applications.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube carpets as scaffolds for U87MG glioblastoma multiforme cell growth.

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are known for effective adhesion, growth, and differentiation of bone, muscle, and cardiac cells. CNTs can provide excellent mechanical and electrical properties for cell scaffolding; however, loose CNTs can cause in-vivo toxicity. To suppress this risk, our team has developed biomimetic scaffolds with multiscale hierarchy where carpet-like CNT arrays are covalently bonded to larger biocompatible substrates.