Biocompatibility of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube scaffolds for human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231

The aim of the current study was to determine whether the MWCNT-based scaffold has a suitable structure for cell growth and provides a biocompatible environment for human MDA-MB-231 cell lines. MWCNT-based nanostructured scaffolds were produced by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded on MWCNTs-textured silicon scaffolds and on pristine silicon surfaces. After 1 week of culturing, the scaffolds were prepared for SEM analysis and immunocytochemical staining was performed for the two groups (MWCNT scaffold and pristine silicon surface), using MMP-2, MMP-9, PI3K, AKT and NF-κB primary antibodies. SEM analyses showed that the MDA-MB-231 cells better adhered to the MWCNT-based nanostructured scaffold than the pristine silicon surface. Immunohistochemical activity of the MDA-MB-231 cells on both materials has similar staining with anti-AKT MMP-2, MMP-9 and NF-κB primary antibodies. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that the MWCNT-based scaffolds enhanced cell adhesion to the scaffold and exhibited more biomimetic properties and physiological adaptation with the potential to be used for in vitro metastasis studies of BrCa cell lines.