Record Detail

We embedded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in
mouse embryoid bodies (EBs) for modulating mechanical
and electrical cues of the stem cell niche. The CNTs
increased the mechanical integrity and electrical conduc-
tivity of the EBs. Measured currents for the unmodified
EBs (hereafter, EBs) and the EBs-0.25 mg/mL CNTs
were 0.79 and 26.3 mA, respectively, at voltage of 5 V.
The EBs had a Young’s modulus of 20.9 ± 6.5 kPa,
whereas the Young’s modulus of the EB-0.1 mg/mL
CNTs was 35.2 ± 5.6 kPa. The EB-CNTs also showed
lower proliferation and greater differentiation rates com-
pared with the EBs as determined by the expression of
pluripotency genes and the analysis of EB sizes.
Interestingly, the cardiac differentiation of the EB-CNTs
was significantly greater than that of the EBs, as con-
firmed by high-throughput gene analysis at day 5 of cul-
ture. Applying electrical stimulation to the EB-CNTs spe-
cifically enhanced the cardiac differentiation and beating
activity of the EBs.