Biodistribution of Quantum Dots-Labelled Halloysite Nanotubes: A Caenorhabditis elegans In Vivo Study

Abstract

Halloysite is a promising building block in nanoarchitectonics of functional materials, especially in the development of novel biomaterials and smart coatings. Understanding the behavior of materials produced using halloysite nanotubes within living organisms is essential for their safe applications. In this study, quantum dots of different compositions were synthesized on the surface of modified clay nanotubes, and the biodistribution of this hybrid material was monitored within Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. The influence of the modification agent as well as the particles’ composition on physicochemical properties of hybrid nanomaterials was investigated. Several microscopy techniques, such as fluorescence and dark-field microscopy, were compared in monitoring the distribution of nanomaterials in nematodes’ organisms. The effects of QDs-halloysite composites on the nematodes’ life cycle were investigated in vivo. Our fluorescent hybrid probes induced no acute toxic effects in model organisms. The stable fluorescence and low toxicity towards the organisms suggest that the proposed synthesis procedure yields safe nanoarchitectonic materials that will be helpful in monitoring the behavior of nanomaterials inside living cells and organisms.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic toxicity of halloysite decorated with photoactive nanoparticles

“…Commun., 2022, 58, 7719-7729 | 7727 bacterial food. 53,75 This indicates that the exposure to photoactive nanoparticles stabilized on halloysite does not cause a gross behavioral defect in the organism. They show no acute toxic effects on reproduction ability, life cycle, and behavior of model nematodes.…”

“…12 CuS nanoparticles could be synthesized on the surface of halloysite modified with aminosilanes and azines of various compositions using methods similar to CdS NPs stabilization on clay nanotubes. 75–77 Our preliminary studies showed that depending on the modification agent (aminosilane or ketazine) CuS NPs stabilized on nanotubes possess different antibacterial activity under visible light against S. aureus . Halloysite modification could be applied to change the charge and chemistry of clay tubes and tune the structure and activity of nanomaterials based on it.…”

“…Photoactive nanoclusters and nanoparticles, stabilized on clay tubes were investigated in terms of toxicity to human cells (A549, PC-3) and model Caenorhabtidis elegans in our works. 53,75,[83][84][85] In our works cadmium sulfide and cadmiumzinc sulfide quantum dots (QDs) were stabilized on halloysite using the following two synthesis strategies: in the first case, APTES was used as a grafting agent and in the second azine produced from furfural and hydrazine hydrate was used as a ligand. Modified clay tubes were dispersed in a Cd(NO 3 ) 2 solution and stirred for 30 min by sonication.…”

Architectural design of core–shell nanotube systems based on aluminosilicate clay

“…31 By variation of synthesis parameters, one can produce bright colored and biosafe nanoclay markers for cell labeling. 31,32 Such nanotubes with incased quantum dots showed low toxicity to eukaryotic cells and to model nematodes such as C. elegans. CdSe quantum dots were selectively loaded inside the nanoclay lumens driven by the electrostatic interaction of negatively charged CdSe particles and positively charged lumens (Fig.…”

Tensile Modulus of Polymer Halloysite Nanotube Systems Containing Filler–Interphase Networks for Biomedical Requests

“…We developed the Ouali model by consid- Recently, ceramic nanoparticles have attracted much interest in the academic research community [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. Alumino-silicate and nanotubular HNT, for example, have the composition of Al 2 (OH) 4 Si 2 O 5 (2H 2 O) and few hydroxyl groups on their surface [30,[33][34][35][36][37]. They normally have a single-tube construct, which can be dispersed in any solvent medium because of siloxane and their few hydroxyl groups, which simplifies the distribution and development of hydrogen bonding [38].…”