Nanobiotechnology: 1D nanomaterial building blocks for cellular interfaces and hybrid tissues

Solid-state nanomaterials exhibit complementary interactions with biological systems because of their biologically-relevant size scales and rationally tunable electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. In this review, we focus specifically on one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials such as silicon or gold nanowires or carbon nanotubes. We discuss the nature of the nanomaterial–cell interface, and how that interface may be engineered to enhance or modulate cellular function. We then describe how those unique interfaces may be exploited in three-dimensional (3D) tissue culture to recapitulate the extracellular matrix and promote or complement morphogenesis. Finally, we describe how 1D nanomaterials may be elucidated as nanoelectronic devices that monitor the chemical or electrical environment of cells or tissue with exquisite spatial and temporal resolution. We discuss prospects for entirely new classes of engineered, hybrid tissues with rationally-designed biological function and two-way, closed-loop electronic communication.