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Stem Cell Impregnated Carbon Nanofibers/Nanotubes for Healing Damaged Neural Tissue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Jong Eun Lee
Affiliation:
lee@yonsei.eduYonsei UniversityAnatomySeoul N/A N/AKorea, Democratic People's Republic of
Dongwoo Khang
Affiliation:
dongwoo@brown.edu, Brown University, Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States
Yong Eul Kim
Affiliation:
kim@yonsei.edu, Yonsei University, Anatomy, Seoul, N/A, N/A, Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Thomas Jay Webster
Affiliation:
Thomas_Webster@Brown.edu, Brown University, Engineering, 184 Hope Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States
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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are intriguing materials for medical applications due to their unique mechanical, electrical, and surface properties which have been shown to enhance neural cell functions compared to other central nervous system implants such as silicon. The objective of this study was to determine if stem cells can be combined with carbon nanofibers in the treatment of stroke damaged neural tissue in rats. Preliminary results demonstrate the ability of stem cells to differentiate into neurons when injected with carbon nanofibers into stroke damaged neural tissue. Moreover, little scar tissue formation was observed. Although preliminary, such results indicate promise for the use of carbon nanofibers as novel stem cell delivery vehicles for neural damage.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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