Immobilized MWCNT support osteogenic cell culture.

The broad use of versatile, strong, lightweight multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for use in biomaterial applications is tempered by ongoing debate about their safety. Recent reports suggest that factors such as their diameter and surface coating affect their function and cytotoxicity. The cell culture surfaces used in the current study were made of MWCNT immobilized in a high-density polyethylene substrate, differentiating it from most studies of MWCNT cytotoxicity. The purity, chemical functionalization, and immobilization of MWCNT were evaluated to elucidate their effect on MWCNT behavior relative to controls. While purity was found not to be significant in determining the behavior of cells on MWCNT relative to standard controls, the presence of carboxyl functional groups was generally associated with reduced cell metabolic activity, proliferation, and differentiation as measured using the MTS assay, nucleic acid incorporation, and alkaline phosphatase expression, respectively. This study demonstrates that the culture of osteogenic cells on surfaces made of nonfunctionalized and immobilized MWCNT is associated with a level of cell growth and differentiation comparable to those of standard tissue culture controls.