Developing biomaterial constructs that closely mimic the natural tissue microenvironment
with its complex chemical and physical cues is essential for improving the function and
reliability of implantable devices, especially those that require direct neural-electrical
interfaces. Here we demonstrate that free-standing vertically aligned carbon nanofiber
(VACNF) arrays can be used as a multifunctional 3-D brush-like nanoengineered matrix that
interpenetrates the neuronal network of PC12 cells. We found that PC12 neuron cells …