Aligned carbon nanotube-based flexible gel substrates for engineering bio-hybrid tissue actuators.

ABSTRACT: Muscle-based biohybrid actuators have generated significant interest as the future of biorobotics but so far they move without having much control over their actuation behavior. Integration of microelectrodes into the backbone of these systems may enable guidance during their motion and allow precise control over these actuators with specific activation patterns. Here, we addressed this challenge by developing aligned CNT forest microelectrode arrays and incorporated them into scaffolds for stimulating the cells. Aligned CNTs were successfully embedded into flexible and biocompatible hydrogel exhibiting excellent anisotropic electrical conductivity. Bioactuators were then engineered by culturing cardiomyocytes on the CNT microelectrode-integrated hydrogel constructs. The resulting cardiac

SUBMITTER: Shin SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4849195 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature