A unique and promising scaffolding structure for animal cell culture:Carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Recently the development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a scaffold in animal cell culture has attracted a great deal of attention. The CNTs, which are macromolecular form of carbon of nanoscale dimensions, are viewed as a class of material with high potential for biological applications due to their unique mechanical, physical and chemical properties. CNTs may serve as an important component in imparting novel properties to the biomatrix necessary for cell growth and may provide the initial structural reinforcement needed for newly created tissue scaffolds. Supporting the use of CNTs as scaffold in tissue engineering many cell types like neuronal cells, fibroblasts and bone cells have been successfully grown on it. CNTs have also been used as in tracking of implanted cells, cancer therapy, biological sensors and as a bioactive delivery agent for DNA and drugs into the cells. Although significant promise has been shown by CNTs in emerging bio-technology, however the potential exposure of CNTs to environment and human has also shown great concern about their toxicological hazard and consequently more investigations are necessarily required.