ABSTRACT
Electrochemical biosensors on the implant itself show promise for medical diagnostics in situ to possibly determine new bone growth surrounding the implant. The incorporation of such electrochemical biosensors into current bone implants may be possible through nanotechnology; different types of nanoscale biomaterials have varying abilities to enhance in vitro and in vivo bone formation. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are a promising material for electro-chemical biosensors because they also possess relatively well-characterized behavior in terms of electron transport. MWCNTs promoted a redox reaction by enhancing the direct electron transfer through their electrically conductive surface surrounded by ionic solutions, which contained the electroactive species, ferri/ferricyanide and the extracellular components from osteoblasts. MWCNTs were shown to be more highly electroactive in chemical transformations than the metallic (Ti) surface, which typically undergoes electrochemical oxidation or dissolution of metal oxides, and is chemically susceptible to corrosion.
