Title: Preparation of chitin carbon nanotubes composites and their study on cellular nerve signal transmission and nerve regeneration

Authors: Heli Niu; Chunbo Zhang

Addresses: Department of medical technology, College of Medical Technology, Baicheng Medical College, JiLin, 137000, China ' Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Yanbian University, JiLin, 133000, China

Abstract: Biomedical materials, which are related to human survival and health, have become increasingly noticeable. It is urgent to find an adsorbent that can adsorb bilirubin without affecting protein and coagulation function. Nerve catheter is a method that can promote axonal regeneration and peripheral nerve function recovery. Carbon nanotubes have many excellent functions, such as high adsorption and promotion of nerve cell growth, due to their unique nano-tubular structure and graphite dilute surface, but they are poorly biocompatible. Therefore, combining chitin and carbon nanotubes can increase the bioefficiency of chitin materials and improve the biocompatibility of carbon nanotubes. The construction of a new chitin/carbon nanotube composite will have academic value and application prospects in the field of blood perfusion removal of toxins, neuroscience and tissue engineering. In this study, an alkaline/urea water system was used to dissolve chitin at low temperature, and then mixed with acidified carbon nanotubes to physically build a series of new chitin/carbon nanotube composite materials (hydrogel and nanofibre microspheres). Atomic force microscope (AFM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR), laser confocal Raman spectrum, nitrogen adsorption, mechanical property testing, etc. characterise the structure and properties of this series of composite materials, and study the relationship between their structures and properties. To study the application prospects of chitin/carbon nanotube composite hydrogels in neural repair through cell culture experiments, the chitin/carbon nanotube composite nanofibre microspheres through adsorption, plasma perfusion, blood compatibility and cell culture tests were evaluated in the field of hemoperfusion. Nerve regeneration is one of the medical problems, and its related mechanisms have been continuously researched. At present, it has reached the level of cellular molecules. At the same time, research on neural regeneration-related signalling pathways, in-depth understanding of the response mechanism of nerve cells to injury, provide positive theoretical guidance for the treatment of different nerve injuries, and for the development of chitin/carbon nanotubes in nerve conduction and regeneration treatment. The method provides more ideas.

Keywords: chitin/carbon nanotubes; nerve conduction; electrochemical property; mechanical property; signal transmission.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2020.110713

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2020 Vol.17 No.2/3/4/5/6, pp.166 - 184

Published online: 28 Oct 2020 *

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