Development of nano electrodes for cell/tissue stimulation

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Development of nano electrodes for cell/tissue stimulation Tobias Weigel1, Jihyoung Choi1, Tobias Schmitz1, Maren Jannasch1, Sabine Gätzner1 and Jan Hansmann1 1 University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Germany Introduction: A central challenge of current tissue electrodes is a high energy consumption caused by inefficient electrical stimulation of the objective cells. Leakage currents, the distance between electrode and target cells as well as the encapsulation of the electrode through the foreign body reaction (FBR) are reasons for this. In our study, nano structured electrodes are developed to optimize the energy transfer at the interface between electrode and cell/tissue. Therefore, conductive electrospun scaffolds with different dimensions and structures are generated, to identify an ideal electrode interaction with cells and tissue. Materials and Methods: The conductive nano fibers were generated by electrospinning of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution with different fiber orientations, diameters and pores. Through an oxidation step and subsequent carbonization, the PAN fibers were converted to carbon fibers. Additionally the nano fibers are nano structured with graphene or other carbonaceous materials by salt melt synthesis (SMS). The properties of the fibers were characterized by SEM and Raman, as well as the electrical conductivity and impedance. Biocompatibility and cell interaction was investigated with human fibroblasts. The electrical stimulation characteristics were tested with cardio muscle stripes in a myograph integrated organ bath. Results: The carbon nano fibers for the cell test exhibited a diameter of about 140, 290 and 530 nm. While the 140 nm fibers are completely disorientated, the other fibers showed a preferred orientation. The conductivity of the fibers was approximately 150 S/cm. Carbonaceous functionalized fibers showed a doubled conductivity and increased tear strength. Contact angle measurements, impedance spectroscopy and protein adsorption assays demonstrated interaction of the nano fibers with the cell culture medium. Cell culture studies using human fibroblasts could demonstrate varying reactions to the different fiber morphologies. Furthermore the generated electrodes were instituted to simulate the energy consumption with human cardio muscle stripes. First results showed a comparable or lower energy expenditure of the nano fibers electrodes compared to commercial electrodes. Discussion: The electrical and mechanical improvement of the carbon fibers is achieved by wrapping and interconnecting with carbonaceous materials. Tests with fibroblasts showed an increased ingrowth into the fiber matrix with higher pore diameter. Additionally released cytokines are measured to compare the different nano fiber structures. Keywords: nanofiber, electric, biomedical application, bioinerface Conference: 10th World Biomaterials Congress, Montréal, Canada, 17 May - 22 May, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Biocompatibility of nanobiomaterials Citation: Weigel T, Choi J, Schmitz T, Jannasch M, Gätzner S and Hansmann J (2016). Development of nano electrodes for cell/tissue stimulation. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. Conference Abstract: 10th World Biomaterials Congress. doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.02212 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Mar 2016; Published Online: 30 Mar 2016. Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Tobias Weigel Jihyoung Choi Tobias Schmitz Maren Jannasch Sabine Gätzner Jan Hansmann Google Tobias Weigel Jihyoung Choi Tobias Schmitz Maren Jannasch Sabine Gätzner Jan Hansmann Google Scholar Tobias Weigel Jihyoung Choi Tobias Schmitz Maren Jannasch Sabine Gätzner Jan Hansmann PubMed Tobias Weigel Jihyoung Choi Tobias Schmitz Maren Jannasch Sabine Gätzner Jan Hansmann Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.