In order to successfully utilize stem cells for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine, efficient differentiation into a specific cell lineage and guidance of axons in a desired direction is crucial. Here, we used aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheets to differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into neural cells. Human MSCs present a preferential adhesion to a...

Among a variety of solution-based approaches to fabricate anisotropic films of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we focus on the dielectrophoretic assembly method using AC electric fields in DNA-stabilized CNT suspensions. We demonstrate that a one-stop manufacturing system using electrode needles can draw anisotropic DNA-CNT hybrid films of 10 to 100 µm in size (i.e., free-standing DNA-CNT micr...

Water transportation inside carbon nanotubes is of great importance for designing novel nanodevices. In this article, by using molecular dynamics simulations, we systematically investigate the pumping of water by rotating carbon nanotube (CNT). It is found that the chirality and rotation of the CNT are two preconditions for stable water flux inside it. Besides, we find that the water flux shows...

We report the synthesis of carbon nanotube/TiC hybrid fibers using a polymer-assisted chemical solution approach. Ti metal ions are bound to aqueous polyethyleneimine (PEI) to form precursor solution. Amphiphilic PEI with Ti easily permeates the CNT fibers. Upon annealing in a controlled atmosphere, a homogeneous TiC network is formed in the CNT fibers. The obtained CNT/TiC hybrid fibers show p...

In this communication we discuss the in vivo parameters such tissue distribution, body clearance and toxicity following administration of carbon nanotubes (CNT). For this propose, therapeutically-relevant doses of serum protein-coated purified CNT (pCNT) and functionalized CNT (f-CNT) were administered intravenously in rodent species. Striking differences were found between the liver and lung t...

We theoretically studied the electronic and electrical properties of metallic and semiconducting peapods with encapsulated C60 (C60@CNT) as a function of the carbon nanotube (CNT) diameter. For exothermic peapods (CNT diameter > 11.8 Å), only minor changes, ascribed to a small structural deformation of the nanotube walls, were observed. These include a small electron charge transfer (less than ...

Although many methods have been documented for carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis, still, we notice many arguments, criticisms, and appeals for its optimization and process control. Industrial grade CNT production is urgent such that invention of novel methods and engineering principles for large-scale synthesis are needed. Here, we comprehensively review arc discharge (AD) and laser ablation (LA)...

Among the many potential applications of carbon nanotubes (CNT), its usage to strengthen polymers has been paid considerable attention due to the exceptional stiffness, excellent strength, and the low density of CNT. This has provided numerous opportunities for the invention of new material systems for applications requiring high strength and high modulus. Precise control over processing factor...