National Synchrotron Light Source Seminar

The introduction of carbon nanotechnology into biomedical sciences has created a great deal of opportunity for improving diagnostic methods, enhancing scaffold properties, and enriching biological interactions. But to take advantage of the potential benefits of carbon nanobiomaterials, many challenges need to be overcome. In our lab, we have capitalized on their unique properties as advanced contrast agents (CAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to improve the physical properties of polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

We have exploited the potential of Gd-based carbon nanostructures: Gd@C60 metallofullerenes (gadofullerenes) and Gd@Ultrashort-tubes (gadonanotubes) as a new generation of advanced CAs for MRI and shown them to have efficacies up to 100 times greater than current clinical CAs. Our recent studies show that they are particularly well suited for passive (magnetic labels for cells) and Active (pH sensitive probes) MRI-based Molecular Imaging.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been proposed as the ideal foundation for the next generation of materials due to their excellent mechanical properties. We have dispersed SWNTs and ultra short SWNTs into fumarate-based polymers to form nanocomposite scaffolds with mechanical properties far superior to the polymers alone.

In this presentation, the fabrication, unique physical properties, and biocompatibility of carbon nanobiomaterials will be discussed especially in regard to the unique benefits of this novel class of materials for MRI and bone tissue engineering.