Electrically Conductive Carbon-Nanotube Framework Materials

Abstract

Conductive materials based on carbon and its modifications are most promising for creating biointerfaces. Such materials can be used for the targeted stimulation of cells and tissues with a high spatial resolution. It is proposed to apply carbon nanotubes, which possess unique electrical, mechanical, and optical characteristics, to design conductive materials. It is shown that welding with the formation of branched networks on a silicon substrate and within a biopolymer matrix can be implemented under laser action. Due to experimental studies the radiation energy density at which bonding between single-walled nanotubes occurs is found to be 0.061 J/cm². The mechanism of the formation of porous materials based on biopolymers of albumin, collagen and chitosan, containing single-walled carbon nanotubes, is determined. Materials are prepared from single-walled carbon nanotubes and biopolymers with a controlled pore size. The pore volume turns out to be more than 60% of the nanocomposite volume. The materials formed may have various forms to produce independent implantable structures or coatings for implanted devices.