Ultrasound-activated piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE)/boron nitride nanotube composite films promote differentiation of human SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.05.006
• Publication Date: 2017-05-29T00:31:09Z
• Authors: Giada Graziana Ge...; Edoardo Sinibaldi; Luca Ceseracciu; Massimiliano Labardi; Attilio Marino; Sergio Marras; Giorgio De Simoni; Virgilio Mattoli; Gianni Ciofani
• Keywords: Boron Compounds; Osteosarcoma; Nanotubes; Cell Survival; Piezoelectricity; Bone Neoplasms; Cell Differentiation; Bone; Boron nitride nanotubes; Cell differentiation; P(VDF-TrFE); Piezoelectricity; Ultrasounds; Bioengineering; Medicine (miscellaneous); Molecular Medicine; Biomedical Engineering; Materials Science (all); 3003; 02 engineering and technology; Boron nitride nanotube; Electric Stimulation; P(VDF-TrFE); Ultrasounds; Cell differentiation; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Humans; Polyvinyls; Boron nitride nanotubes; Bone; 0210 nano-technology; Ultrasonography

Piezoelectric films of poly(vinylidenedifluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) and of P(VDF-TrFE)/boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were prepared by cast-annealing and used for SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cell culture. Films were characterized in terms of surface and bulk features, and composite films demonstrated enhanced piezoresponse compared to plain polymeric films (d31 increased by ~80%). Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated in terms of calcium deposition, collagen I secretion, and transcriptional levels of marker genes (Alpl, Col1a1, Ibsp, and Sparc) in cells either exposed or not to ultrasounds (US); finally, a numerical model suggested that the induced voltage (~20-60 mV) is suitable for cell stimulation. Although preliminary, our results are extremely promising and encourage the use of piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE)/BNNT films in bone tissue regeneration.