Laser Technology for the Formation of Bioelectronic Nanocomposites Based on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Proteins with Different Structures, Electrical Conductivity and Biocompatibility

Alexander Yu Gerasimenko,Aleksandr V Zubko,Uliana E Kurilova,Irina A Suetina,Olga E Glukhova,Marina V Mezentseva,Marina I Sekacheva

doi:10.3390/app11178036

Abstract

A laser technology for creating nanocomposites from alternating layers of albumin/collagen proteins with two types of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) at concentrations of 0.001 and 0.01 wt.% was proposed. For this purpose, a setup with a diode laser (810 nm) and feedback system for controlling the temperature of the area affected by the radiation was developed. Raman spectroscopy was used to determine a decrease in the defectiveness of SWCNT with an increase in their concentration in the nanocomposite due to the formation of branched 3D networks with covalent bonds between nanotubes. It was revealed that adhesion of proteins to branched 3D networks from SWCNT occurred. The specific electrical conductivity of nanocomposites based on large SWCNT nanotubes was 3.2 and 4.3 S/m compared to that for nanocomposites based on small SWCNT with the same concentrations—1.1 and 1.8 S/m. An increase in the concentration and size of nanotubes provides higher porosity of nanocomposites. For small SWCNT-based nanocomposites, a significant number of mesopores up to 50 nm in size and the largest specific surface area and specific pore volume were found. Nanocomposites with small SWCNT (0.001 wt.%) provided the best cardiac fibroblast viability. Such technology can be potentially used to create bioelectronic components or scaffolds for heart tissue engineering.

Highlights

One of the main directions of modern biomedical technologies and bioelectronics is the search for new memetic 3D structures—synthetic materials that must have certain physical and biological properties
We have previously demonstrated a similar effect when exposed to pulsed laser radiation on biopolymer dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) [47]
The electrical conductivity of nanocomposites based on large SWCNT2 nanotubes at concentrations of 0.001 and 0.01 wt.% was 3.2 and 4.3 S/m compared to the specific electrical conductivity for nanocomposites based on SWCNT1 with the same concentrations—1.1 and 1.8 S/m

Summary

Introduction

One of the main directions of modern biomedical technologies and bioelectronics is the search for new memetic 3D structures—synthetic materials that must have certain physical and biological properties. Frame materials have proven themselves effective—composites consist of a matrix and a filler in the form of particles [3] In such materials, nanoparticles are used to control their structure at the nanoscale [4]. Carbon nanotubes are filamentous structures, to which researchers from different fields draw a lot of attention This is due to their high mechanical strength, and excellent thermal, optical and electrical properties [7]. Nanotubes have high thermal conductivity, in the area of defects due to the crystal lattice disruption, the thermal conductivity decreases and hot spots are formed [17] Such spots are the most probable regions for the bonding of nanotubes to each other into frame structures [18]. Due to the small net force on each carbon atom, it is negligible compared to the action of the usual molecular bond force

Methods

Results

Conclusion