abstract
Biomaterials can still be reinvented to become simple and universal bone regeneration solutions. Following this roadmap, conductive CNT-based "smart" materials accumulate exciting grafting qualities for tuning the in vitro cellular phenotype. Biphasic electrical stimulation of human osteoblastic cells was performed in vitro on either dielectric bioactive bone grafts or conductive CNT-reinforced composites. The efficiency of the electrical stimuli delivery, as well as the effect of stimulation on cellular functions were investigated. Conductive substrates boosted the local culture medium conductivity and the confinement of the exogenous electrical fields. Hence, bone cell proliferation, DNA content and mRNA expression were maximized on the conductive substrates yielding superior stimuli delivering efficiency over dielectric ones. These findings are suggestive that bioactive bone grafts with electrical conductivity are capable of high spatial and temporal control of bone cell stimulation.
keywords
MESENCHYMAL STEM-CELLS; PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS; CARBON NANOTUBES; OSTEOGENIC DIFFERENTIATION; ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION; CALCIUM-CHANNELS; VIBRATING PROBE; DRUG-DELIVERY; CURRENTS; VITRO
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Mata, D; Oliveira, FJ; Neto, MA; Belmonte, M; Bastos, AC; Lopes, MA; Gomes, PS; Fernandes, MH; Silva, RF
our authors
António Alexandre Cunha Bastos
Assistant Researcher
Diogo Miguel Rodrigues Marinho da Mata
Post-doc Fellowship
Filipe José Alves de Oliveira
Principal Researcher
Miguel Ângelo da Costa Neto
Principal Researcher
Rui Ramos Ferreira e Silva
Associate Professoracknowledgements
D. Mata acknowledges Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for funding the project PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013. M. Belmonte acknowledges the financial support of the Spanish Government (project MAT2012-32944).