Physical and Chemical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) for Bone and Nerve Tissue Engineering

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) display many unique physical and chemical properties. These materials have been used in various technological applications, such as electronic devices, field emission devices, and composite materials. CNTs were first described by Iijima over ten years ago [1]. A needle-shaped material containing several layers of coaxial tubes was first noticed; this material was given the term multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and multi-walled carbon nanotube structures may be prepared through a variety of techniques; including laser evaporation, electric arc-discharge, and chemical vapor deposition amongst many others.CNTs have numerous mechanical, physical, and chemical properties, in addition to their nanoscale dimensions, that make them distinct from other nanofibrous materials for biological applications; especially note are the very high strength and stiffness, and the electrical conductivity. These properties, amongst others, have resulted in various interactions and enabled the stimulation of desirable cellular functions. For example, in a study investigating carbon fibres with diameters ranging from 60–200 nm, osteoblast adhesion, proliferation and ECM production were demonstrated to increase with decreasing fiber diameter [2]. The biomedical area includes advanced drug delivery systems (DDs), gene delivery, and tissue engineering.