Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes as cytocompatible material for enhanced adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast-like cells.

In this study, we describe the spatial organization of CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells on arrays of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VACNTs). It was observed that, unlike cell growth on non-patterned surfaces, the cell attachment and spreading process on VACNTs was significantly enhanced. Additionally, since carbon nanotubes are known to possess resilient mechanical properties and are chemically stable, the effect of periodic arrays of VACNTs on CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells was also studied. The periodicity and alignment of VACNTs considerably influenced growth, shape and orientation of the cells by steering toward the nanopattern. This situation is of great interest for the potential application of VACNTs in bone bioenginnering. This data provides evidence that CAL-72 osteoblast-like cells can sense physical features at the nanoscale. These results give a fascinating insight into the ways in which cell growth can be influenced by man-made nanostructures and could provide a framework for achieving controlled cell guidance with controlled organization and special physical properties.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and metallic nanoparticles and their application in biomedicine.

Interdisciplinary research has become a matter of paramount importance for novel applications of nanomaterials in biology and medicine. As such, many disciplines-physics, chemistry, microbiology, cell biology, and material science-all contribute to the design, synthesis and fabrication of functional and biocompatible devices at the nanometer scale. Since the most areas of cell biology and biomedicine deal with functional entities such as DNA and proteins, mimicry of these structures and function in the nanosize range offers exciting opportunities for the development of biosensors, biochips, and bioplatforms. In this report we highlight the potential benefits and challenges that arise in the manufacture of biocompatible nanoparticles and nano-networks that can be coupled with biological objects. Among the challenges facing us are those concerned with making the necessary advances in enabling affordability, innovation, and quality of manufactured nanodevices for rapid progress in the emerging field of bio-nanotechnology. The convergence of nanotechnology and biomedicine makes nanoscale research highly promising for new discoveries that can cost-effectively accelerate progress in moving from basic research to practical prototypes and products.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes for plasmid delivery into Escherichia coli cells.

Introduction of foreign genes into bacterial cells (transformation) is used for supplementing defective genes or providing additional biological functions. Transformation can be achieved using either chemical or physical methods, e.g., electroporation. Bulk electroporation offers several advantages over chemical methods, including high transformation efficiency, but its application is limited due to the high numbers of cells and plasmids needed as a result of the high death rate of cells during this process, and the difficulty in electroporating single cells. Synthetic inorganic gene nanocarriers have received limited attention in the transformation of bacterial cells. Here we present a plasmid delivery system based on water dispersible multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that can simultaneously target the bacterial surface and deliver the plasmids into the cells via temporary nanochannels across the cell envelope. Transformation experiments performed on E. coli provide evidence for the high potential of CNTs for nanoscale cell electroporation.

Interfacial activity and leaching patterns of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans on pyrite.

The leaching ability of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans goes beyond the mere oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+). Addition of these bacteria to pyrite triggers interfacial phenomena that lead to bacterial attachment and local forms of corrosion (surface pitting). As the leaching process proceeds, bacterial cells undergo changes, characterized by the release of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the uptake and storage of electro-dense nanoparticles. The latter are embedded in an exopolymeric capsule, which coats the bacterial surface leading to distinctive biomineralized assemblages. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, quantitative energy-dispersive X-ray measurements and electron diffraction established that the embedded electron-dense nanoparticles comprise pyrite with a well-defined stoichiometry. Addition of Fe(3+) alone did not induce any form of local corrosion on pyrite, which indicates that the reactions taking place between the attached bacteria and the underlying pyrite surface are responsible for the leaching patterns observed in this study. The observed corrosion process resembles that of 'electrochemical machining', because it uses a corrosion promoter, namely the locally concentrated Fe(3+) in the biofilm environment, formed by the attached cells.