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ABSTRACT
Introduction
Carbon nanotubes are effective in improving scaffolds to enhance cardiomyocyte function and hold great promise in the field of cardiac tissue engineering.
Areas covered
A PubMed and Google Scholar search was performed to find relevant literature. 18 total studies were used as primary literature. The literature revealed that the incorporation of carbon nanotube into biocompatible scaffolds that mimic myocardial extracellular matrix enhanced the ability to promote cell functions by improving physical profiles of scaffolds. Several studies showed improved scaffold conductance, mechanical strength, improvements in cell properties such as viability, and beating behavior of cells grown on carbon nanotube incorporated scaffolds. Carbon nanotubes present a unique opportunity in the world of tissue engineering through reparation and regeneration of the myocardium, an otherwise irreparable tissue.
Expert opinion
The high burden of cardiovascular disease has prompted research into cardiac tissue engineering applications. Carbon-nanotube incorporation into extracellular matrix-mimicking-scaffolds has shown to improve cardiomyocyte conductivity, viability, mechanical strength, beating behavior, and have protected them from damage to a certain degree. These are promising findings that have the potential of becoming the focus of future cardiac tissue engineering research.
List of abbreviations
| α-MHC | = | = Alpha myosin heavy chain |
| β-MHC | = | = Beta myosin heavy chain |
| Actn4 | = | = Actinin Alpha 4 |
| Anf | = | = Atrial natriuretic factor |
| ANP | = | = A-type natriuretic peptide |
| ATP | = | = Adenosine triphosphate |
| Atp2a2 | = | = ATPase 2a |
| BASCs | = | = Brown adipose stem cells |
| BPM | = | = Beats per minute |
| Ca2+ | = | = Calcium Ion |
| Col | = | = Collagen |
| Conx43 | = | = Connexin 43 |
| CM | = | = Culture medium |
| CNF | = | = Carbon nanofiber |
| CNF-PLGA | = | = Carbon nanofiber – poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) |
| CNT | = | = Carbon nanotube |
| CNT1 | = | = 1 wt% carbon nanotube |
| CNT3 | = | = 3 wt% carbon nanotube |
| CNT5 | = | = 5 wt% carbon nanotube |
| CNT-Col | = | = Carbon nanotube-collagen |
| CNT-DMF | = | = Carbon nanotube- N,N’-dimethylformamide |
| CNT-Gel | = | = Carbon nanotube-gelatin |
| CNT-GelMA | = | = Carbon nanotube gelatin methacrylate |
| CNT-PELA | = | = Carbon nanotube poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) |
| CNT-PLA | = | = Carbon nanotube- poly-L-lactide acid |
| CNT-PLGA | = | = Carbon nanotube- poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) |
| CNT-PG | = | = Carbon nanotube-polyglycerol sebacate gelatin |
| CNT-PU | = | = Carbon nanotube-polyurethane |
| CTT | = | = Cardiac troponin t |
| CVD | = | = Cardiovascular disease |
| Cx-43 | = | = Connexin 43 |
| DMF | = | = N,N’-dimethylformamide |
| ECM | = | = Extracellular matrix |
| ERK | = | = Extracellular signal-regulated kinase |
| FAK | = | = Focal adhesion kinase |
| GATA4 | = | = GATA binding protein 4 |
| Gelma | = | = Gelatin methacrylate |
| GPa | = | = Gigapascal |
| H9c2 | = | = H9c2 cell line |
| HUVEC | = | = Human umbilical vein endothelial cell |
| ID | = | = Intercalated Disc |
| KPa | = | = Kilopascal |
| LDH | = | = Lactate dehydrogenase |
| LVEF | = | = Left ventricular ejection fraction |
| LVES | = | = Left ventricular end systolic |
| LVFS | = | = Left ventricular shortening fraction |
| Nm | = | = Nanometer |
| NRVM | = | = Neonatal rat ventricular myocyte |
| Meff2 | = | = Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 |
| MeSH | = | = Medical Subject Headings |
| Mg | = | = Milligram |
| Ml | = | = Millilitre |
| MI | = | = Myocardial infarction |
| MSC | = | = Mesenchymal stem cell |
| MTS | = | =3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium |
| MTT | = | = 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromidefor |
| MWCNT | = | = Multi-walled carbon nanotube |
| Myh7 | = | = Myosin heavy chain 7 |
| PELA | = | = Poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) |
| PG/PGS | = | = Polyglycerol sebacate (gelatin) |
| pH | = | = Potential of hydrogen |
| PLA | = | = Poly-L-lactide acid |
| PLGA | = | = Polylactic-co-glycolic acid |
| PNIPAAm | = | = Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide |
| PVA | = | = Polyvinyl alcohol |
| PVA-CS | = | = Polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan |
| PVA-CS-CNT | = | = Polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan-carbon nanotube |
| Pu | = | = Polyurethane |
| qRT-PCR | = | = Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction |
| RT-PCR | = | = Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction |
| SERCA2a | = | = Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a |
| Sk-Actin | = | = Skeletal muscle alpha actin |
| SWCNT | = | = Single-walled carbon nanotube |
| SWNT | = | = Single-walled nanotube |
| Tnnc 1 | = | = Troponin C1, Slow Skeletal And Cardiac Type |
| TPa | = | = Terapascal |
| TrpT-2 | = | = Triosephosphate translocator 2 |
| μM | = | = Micrometer |
| UV | = | = Ultraviolet |
Article highlights
• Cardiovascular disease presents as a major problem in modern healthcare, especially since cardiomyocytes possess poor ability to repair themselves.
• Carbon nanotubes are effective in improving scaffolds to enhance cardiomyocyte function.
• Incorporation of carbon nanotube into scaffolds demonstrated improved scaffold conductance, mechanical strength, and improvements in cell properties such as viability and beating behavior.
• Carbon nanotubes have also exhibited a potential protective role in cardiomyocytes against pathologic hypertrophy and/or oxidative damage.
• Further research needs to be done to determine cytotoxicity and optimal methods of carbon-nanotube utilization.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Reviewer disclosures
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.