Synthesize of Carbon Quantum Dot Scaffold for the Use in Tissue Engineering

Background and Aim: Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), also called carbondots (CDs or C-dots) or carbon nano-dots (CNDs), are a novel class ofcarbon nanomaterials and quasi-spherical nanoparticles with ultrafinesizes below 10 nm. CDs have slowly become a valuable structure in thenano-carbon family, because of being non-toxic, abundant and low-costnature. Tissue engineering includes strategies to facilitate the replacementor repair of organs and restore their functions. In this regard, selection ofappropriate stimulating cues and synthesis of three-dimensional scaffoldswill provide a suitable microenvironment which leads to unlocking theinnate powers of differentiation and regeneration of cells. This motivatedus to study whether a nanocomposite based on alginate and carbonquantum dot would support an adequate microenvironment or not.Methods: In this study, we used alginate in order to synthesize a hydrogel,which contains CDs. We aim to use this hydrogel to encapsulatemesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to investigate the role of carbondots as inducer factor. We used the micro-droplet technique to makemicrospheres which could be used to encapsulating MSCs.Results: Hydrogels are composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymersthat absorb large amounts of water without dissolving and are commonlyused in tissue engineering applications due to their low cytotoxicityand structural similarity to native ECM. They generally exhibit highbiocompatibility and non-immunogenicity. On its own, alginate doesnot provide mammalian cell-adhesive ligands, however, cell adhesionand differentiation can be facilitated through the addition of gelatin.The main method of crosslinking alginate hydrogels is through ioniccrosslinking with Ca+2 ions and the gelation rate can be modified bychanging the temperature and concentration of the crosslinking agent.One of the most frequently used agents to do this is CaCl2. Here weused DMEM as a solvent for CDs, alginate and gelatin and CaCl2 as acrosslinking agent. For solving alginate and gelatin no heat should beused. Next, we examined Cds and hydrogel by FTIR test and determineddegradation rate of the hydrogel by incubating samples of microspheresin PBS solution at 37°C.Conclusion: In this study, a novel carbon dots alginate nanocompositewas developed by utilizing interdisciplinary knowledge of materialscience, bioscience, and nanotechnology. Biodegradation of alginate/CDs nanocomposites were examined. Based on its great potential inbiodegradation, biocompatibility, and safety, this nanocomposite mightbe a candidate for tissue engineering and bioprinting applications

کلیدواژه ها:

Tissue Engineering ، Carbon Quantum Dot ، Alginate ، Gelatin