Inhibition of Mesenchymal Cell Contraction using Carbon
Nanotubes

• Authors: Elizabeth M. Wailes , Nicole H. Levi-Polyachenko
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Fibrosis can develop after injury in many organ systems, including the
skin, lungs, and heart, yet no treatment is currently available to target the
cause of fibrosis. We hypothesize that fiber-like carbon nanotubes may
be able to interact with the mesenchymal cells to inhibit the contraction
that can lead to fibrosis. Collagen gels were populated with human
mesenchymal cells and spherical carbon black nanoparticles, singlewall
carbon nanotubes (SWNT), or multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT).
The contraction, viability, actin content, and antioxidant capabilities of the
gels were evaluated over the course of one week. The initial mechanical
properties of the gels were also investigated. Both SWNT and MWNT,
but not carbon black, significantly inhibited contraction while increasing
proliferation. The nanotubes were effective even though cells in every
gel type expressed α-smooth muscle actin, which is indicative of a procontractile,
myofibroblast phenotype. The nanoparticles were shown to
not affect gel stiffness. The MWNT also act as potent antioxidants, which
may be the reason they minimize contraction. Our data show that carbon
nanotubes can modulate the pathological activity of mesenchymal cells
while increasing cell proliferation. We demonstrate that the aspect ratio of
carbon nanoparticles is an important factor in mediating nanoparticle-cell
interactions.

Keywords

EN

Fibrosis ; Collagen Gel ; MWNT ; SWNT; Carbon Black

• Publisher: Versita
• Journal: Nanomaterials and Tissue Regeneration
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 1
• Pages: 1-13

Dates

accepted

2 - 5 - 2013

online

29 - 07 - 2013

received

31 - 1 - 2013

Contributors

author

Elizabeth M. Wailes

• Department of Plastic Surgery,
  Wake Forest University School of Medicine,
  Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem,
  NC 27175 USA
• Department of Biomedical Engineering,
  Wake Forest University,
  575 N. Patterson Avenue, Winston Salem,
  NC 27101 USA

author

Nicole H. Levi-Polyachenko

• Department of Plastic Surgery,
  Wake Forest University School of Medicine,
  Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem,
  NC 27175 USA
• Department of Biomedical Engineering,
  Wake Forest University,
  575 N. Patterson Avenue, Winston Salem,
  NC 27101 USA

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/ntr-2013-0001