CHAPTER 12. Smart Carbon Nanotubes and Graphenes for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that merges the principles of engineering, biology and material sciences to develop approaches and therapeutic strategies to restore, replace or improve biological functions. The development of biomaterials plays a pivotal role in the progress of tissue engineering. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene with its derivatives (graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide) are carbon-based materials that present unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Besides having unparalleled electrical and mechanical properties, they can be modified via noncovalent or covalent attachment of molecules. Due to these distinct characteristics, these materials are interesting candidates to be used for various biomedical applications such as drug and gene delivery, biosensing, bioimaging and beyond. In tissue engineering, CNTs and graphenes can be used alone as substrates or mixed with other biomaterials to increase their bioactivity hence improving stem cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation towards various phenotypes. Herein, the advances made in CNTs and graphenes for tissue engineering are presented with particular emphasis on their biocompatibility and potential for tissue engineering and regeneration research.