Table 4.
Effect of conductive nano-construct on cell morphology.
| Category | Conductive Construct | Mechanical Properties | Electrical Properties | Cell Line | Cellular Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon NMs | Collagen/SWCNTs composite [114] | - | Two-probe technique, σ = 1.72 × 10−9/Ω | NRVMs | Enhanced assembly of intercalated discs. |
| rGO, Na-alginate hydrogels [110] |
G’ = 1 kPa at ω = 10 rad/s | Four-probe technique, σ = 1/9 ± 0.16 × 105 S/m | Neonatal rat CMs | Striated morphology with elevated expression of actn4, cTnT2, Cx43 | |
| rGO/collagen cardiac patch [117] |
E = 340 kPa | Four-probe technique, σ = 22 µS/m | CMs | Two-folds increase in actinin and Cx43 expression with five-folds increase in cTnT2 | |
| OPF/GO hydrogels [120] |
- | σ= 4.24 mS/cm | Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts | Well organised striated sarcomeres, enhanced expression α-tubulin, actinin, ID-related proteins | |
| PCL/graphene composites [119] |
- | EIS, Z = 1.2 kΩ | mESCs-CMs | Contractile morphology, elevated levels of MHC, Cx43, β-actin, cTnT after 14 days | |
| CNF/gelatin patch [118] |
UTS = 5.32 MPa, E = 8.42 MPa | Four-probe technique, σ = 84 µS/m | CMs | Cx43 and actn4 up-regulated by 3 and 4.4 folds, respectively | |
| Metallic NMs | GelMA/GNRs Hydrogels [116] |
E = 1.1 kPa | LCR meter, Z < 1 kΩ (102 to 106 Hz) | CMs | Increased cytoskeletal organisation, enhanced expression of Cx43, α-actinin, cTnI, synchronous beating patterns. |
| Laponite loaded myocardial ECM/ gold NPs hydrogels [113] |
- | - | Neonatal rat CMs | Less apoptosis rate, strong cardiac phenotype. | |
| Gold NPs/PCL-gelatin membranes [115] | - | - | NRVMs | Elongated and aligned morphology. High contraction amplitude | |
| Chitosan/Se NPs films [95] |
UTS = 19 kPa, εr = 67%, | σ = 5.5 mS/cm | H9c2 | Filopodia-like morphology | |
| Chitosan/TiO2 NPs hydrogels [94] | E = 1.5 MPa | - | CMs | Better cell-matrix interaction, Interconnected cardiac layers |
Abbreviations: SWCNTs: single-wall carbon nanotubes, NRVMs: neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, OPF: oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate), GO: graphene oxide, ID: intercalated discs, EIS: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, mESCs-CMs: mouse embryonic stem cells derived cardiomyocytes, Se: selenium, G’: shear storage modulus, εr: strain at rupture, UTS: ultimate tensile strength, E = elastic modulus.