Conductive all-carbon nanotube layers: Results on attractive physicochemical, anti-bacterial, anticancer and biocompatibility properties

Abstract Physicochemical, electrochemical and biological performance of 4 types of all‑carbon nanotube layers was studied. Higher oxidation state of carbon was responsible for micro-scaled uniformity of the layers and excellent electrical conductivity, while nitrogen containing functional groups yielded materials with anisotropy similar to natural tissues and reduced work function. All materials were cytocompatible with mammalian fibroblasts (viability >80%, cytotoxicity 70% at day 1), while reducing bacterial and cancer cells proliferation without adding any drug. After 8 h culture, a ~ 50% depletion in the number of Gram-positive bacteria was observed on materials with lower work function, while Gram-negative bacteria were more sensitive towards carbon coordination number and presence of nitrogen atoms (cell depletion of up to 48% on amidized carbon nanotubes). After 1-day culture, >80% reduction in the melanoma cells number, connected with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed. All‑carbon nanotube layers decreased bacteria and cancer cell functions without negatively influencing mammalian cells nor using drugs and we believe that this can be explained by various sensitivity of the tested cells towards exogenous ROS overproduction. As the concerns over implant-related infections as well as rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and chemotherapeutic-resistant cancer cells are growing, such materials should pave the way for a wide range of biomedical applications.