Carbon Nanotubes/Regenerated Silk Composite as a Three-Dimensional Printable Bio-Adhesive Ink with Self-Powering Properties
Year: 2021
Authors: Bon S.B., Chiesa I., Degli Esposti M., Morselli D., Fabbri P., De Maria C., Morabito A. Colett,a R., Calamai M., Pavone F.S., Tonin R., Morrone A., Giorgi G., Valentini L.
Autors Affiliation: Univ Perugia, Dipartimento Ingn Civile & Ambientale, I-05100 Terni, Italy; Italian Consortium Sci & Technol Mat INSTM, I-50121 Florence, Italy; Univ Pisa, Dept Ingn Informaz, I-56122 Pisa, Italy; Univ Pisa, Res Ctr E Piaggio, I-56122 Pisa, Italy; Univ Bologna, Dept Civil Chem Environm & Mat Engn DICAM, I-40131 Bologna, Italy; Meyer Childrens Hosp, Dept Pediat Surg, I-50139 Florence, Italy; Univ Firenze, Area Farmaco & Salute Bambino NEUROFARBA, Psicol, Dipartimento Neurosci, I-50121 Florence, Italy; Univ Salford, Sch Hlth & Soc, Salford M5 4WT, Lancs, England; Univ Florence, European Lab Nonlinear Spect LENS, I-50129 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Natl Inst Opt Natl Res Council CNR INO, I-50129 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys, I-50121 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Meyer Childrens Hosp, Neurosci Dept, Paediat Neurol Unit & Labs, Mol & Cell Biol Lab, I-50139 Florence, Italy; Univ Perugia, Dipartimento Ingn Civile & Ambientale DICA, I-06125 Perugia, Italy; CNR SCITEC, I-06123 Perugia, Italy
Abstract: In this study, regenerated silk (RS) obtained from Bombyx Mori cocoons is compounded with carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) in an aqueous environment for the fabrication of functional bio-adhesives. Molecular interactions between RS and carboxyl groups of CNTs result in structural increase of the ?-sheet formation, obtaining a resistant adhesive suitable for a wet biological substrate. Moreover, the functionalization of CNTs promotes their dispersion in RS, thus enabling the production of films with controlled electrical conductivity. The practical utility of such a property is demonstrated through the fabrication of a piezoelectric device implanted in a rat to monitor the breathing in vivo and to be used as a self-powered system. Finally, RS/f-CNTs were used as a printable biomaterial ink to three dimensionally print bilayer hollow tubular structures composed of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and RS. Initial tests carried out by seeding and growing human skin fibroblasts demonstrated that the 3D printed bilayer hollow cylindrical structures offer a suitable surface for the seeded cells to attach and proliferate. In general, the herein proposed RS/f-CNT composite serves as a versatile material for solvent-free dispersion processing and 3D printing, thus paving a new approach to prepare multifunctional materials with potential applications of great interest in sealing biological substrates and implantable devices for regenerative medicine.
Journal/Review: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume: 13 (18) Pages from: 21007-1 to: 21017-11
More Information: M.C. and F.S.P. received funding from Laserlab-Europe, H2020 EC-GA 65414. L.V., S.B.B., P.F., D.M., M. Degli Esposti, I.C. and C.D.M. received funding from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) under the PRIN Project “Development and promotion of the Levulinic acid and Carboxylate platforms by the formulation of novel and advanced PHA-based biomaterials and their exploitation for 3D printed green-electronics applications” grant 2017FWC3WC. I.C. and C.D.M. acknowledge the support of the Crosslab Additive Manufacturing of the Department of Information Engineering of the University of Pisa.KeyWords: 3D printing, carbon nanotubes, interface modeling, mechanical properties, regenerated silk, self-powering bio-adhesivesDOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c03288Citations: 15data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-04-14References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click hereConnecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here