Three‐dimensional carbon nanotube scaffolds for long‐term maintenance and expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and maintenance of their self‐renewal capacity in vitro requires specialized robust cell culture systems. Conventional approaches using animal‐derived or artificial matrices and a cocktail of growth factors have limitations such as consistency, scalability, pathogenicity, and loss of MSC phenotype. Herein, we report the use of all‐carbon 3‐D single‐ and multiwalled carbon nanotube scaffolds (SWCNTs and MWCNTs) as artificial matrices for long‐term maintenance and expansion of human MSCs. Three‐dimensional SWCNT and MWCNT scaffolds were fabricated using a novel radical initiated thermal cross‐linking method that covalently cross‐links CNTs to form 3‐D macroporous all‐carbon architectures. Adipose‐derived human MSCs showed good cell viability, attachment, proliferation, and infiltration in MWCNT and SWCNT scaffolds comparable to poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid (PLGA) scaffolds (baseline control). ADSCs retained stem cell phenotype after 30 days and satisfied the International Society for Cellular Therapy's (ISCT) minimal criteria for MSCs. Post expansion, (1) ADSCs showed in vitro adherence to tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS); (2) MSC surface antigen expression [CD14(−), CD19(−), CD34(−), CD45(−), CD73(+), CD90(+), CD105(+)]; and (3) trilineage differentiation into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Results show that cross‐linked 3‐D MWCNTs and SWCNTs scaffolds are suitable for ex vivo expansion and maintenance of MSCs for therapeutic applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1927–1939, 2017.