Designing nano-biocomposite materials using CVD grown CNTs and ZnO nanostructures for hybrid interfaces and hydrogel environments with future biomedical applications

One dimensional (1D) nanostructures, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other nanowires, have been proven useful for many biomedical applications. Their high aspect ratio allows for functionalization with specific biological molecules or other nanoscale moieties through covalent bonding, physisorption or chemisorption. Controlled production of CNTs and zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) has been shown to provide avenues for tailoring interfaces at the nanoscale. These materials are excellent candidates for biomedical use due to unique physical/electrical properties and biocompatibility. When incorporated into nonconductive environments, CNTs/ZnO NW will efficiently transmit electrical signals to biological cells and improve the mechanical strength of composite materials.
Here we investigate CVD-grown CNTs, ZnO NWs and CNTs/ZnO hybrid structures interfaced with hydrogels. We have demonstrated that sw-CNT/hydrogel interfaces guide healthy neuronal cell behaviors like cell attachment and neurite growth. Designing new hybrid nanomaterials such as CNTs/ZnO/Hydrogel composites with controlled morphology and functionalized interfaces provide a useful platform for investigating critical biomedical problems simultaneously targeting neural cell regeneration, cancer treatments, and drug delivery.