Multiwalled carbon nanotube reinforced biomimetic bundled gel fibres†
* Corresponding authors
a
Center for International Research on Integrative Biomedical Systems (CIBiS), The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
E-mail:
mat@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
b Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), 8 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
c Department of Materials and Life Science, Seikei University, 3-3-1 Kichijoji Kitamachi, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
d Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Informatics and Technology, The University of Electro-Communications, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
Abstract
This work describes the fabrication and characterization of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)-based biomimetic bundled gel fibres. The bundled gel fibres were reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A phase-separated aqueous solution with MWCNT and HPC was transformed into a bundled fibrous structure after being injected into a co-flow microfluidic device and applying the sheath flow. The resulting MWCNT-bundled gel fibres consist of multiple parallel microfibres. The mechanical and electrical properties of MWCNT-bundled gel fibres were improved and their potential for tissue engineering applications as a cell scaffold was demonstrated.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Open access articles from Biomaterials Science