(551g) Optimizing the Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Fibers Utilizing Biocompatiable Components

The eloquent properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT) with their high conductivity, high aspect ratio and high tensile strength make them an optimal material with broad applications. Of these, the production of fibers to serve as artifical actuators can be achieved by wet spinning a dispersion of CNT into a viscous polymer bath. Upon injecting the dispersion into the bath, the polymer will coagulate around the liquid dispersion thus fortifying it as an usable material. However,in order to serve as an actuator a sensitive balance is required among the fibers inherent strength, conductivity and biocompatability. Of these three, the last dictates that the fiber produced is not subject to an attack by the body upon insertion. In order to circumvent this issue, various biomolecules are utilized as both the dispersant agent to separate the CNT bundles and as the coagulant agent in the production of these CNT fibers.