Carbon nanotube-assisted optical activation of TGF-β signalling by near-infrared light

Abstract

Receptor-mediated signal transduction modulates complex cellular behaviours such as cell growth, migration and differentiation. Although photoactivatable proteins have emerged as a powerful tool for controlling molecular interactions and signalling cascades at precise times and spaces using light, many of these light-sensitive proteins are activated by ultraviolent or visible light, which has limited tissue penetration. Here, we report a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-assisted approach that enables near-infrared light-triggered activation of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signal transduction, an important signalling pathway in embryonic development and cancer progression. The protein complex of TGF-β and its latency-associated peptide is conjugated onto SWCNTs, where TGF-β is inactive. Upon near-infrared irradiation, TGF-β is released through the photothermal effect of SWCNTs and becomes active. The released TGF-β activates downstream signal transduction in live cells and modulates cellular behaviours. Furthermore, preliminary studies show that the method can be used to mediate TGF-β signalling in living mice.

The Fabrication of rGO/(PLL/PASP)3@DOX Nanorods with pH‐Switch for Photothermal Therapy and Chemotherapy

“…Upon NIR irradiation, HeLa cell apoptosis could be induced by local temperature change around the drug nanoparticles and possibly generate active speciesf rom the rGO component. [48][49][50] The bindinge nergy betweenr GO/(PLL/PASP) 3 andD OX could be changed by thep hotothermal heating, leading to DOX release from the carrier and diffusion into the cancerc ells. As shown in Figure 4E,f ollowing NIR irradiation, the cell viability could be furtherr educed from 95 %t o7 5%,a nd 48 %t o3 7%,i nt he presenceo fr GO/(PLL/PASP) 3 and rGO/(PLL/PASP) 3 @DOX, respectively.T hese resultsi ndicated that the rGO/(PLL/ PASP) 3 @DOX nanodrugs can combine photothermal and chemical functions for the treatment of cancer cells.…”

<div>Long-term intravenous administration of carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes induces persistent accumulation in the lungs and pulmonary fibrosis via the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway</div>

“…CNTs are promising candidates for biomedical applications, such as delivery of therapeutic agents, 3,4 diagnosis using near-infrared imaging, and photothermal treatment. 5,6 Commercial products made from CNTs are now part of daily life, and global production of CNTs has increased at least tenfold since 2006 to .4.5 kilotons per year.…”

Photodynamic Action of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

“…Similar NIR-photodynamic action has been reproduced by using SWNTs chemically modified with polyethylene imine (300 W tungsten-halogen lamp) 66) and SWNTs coated with a protein-PEG-PL conjugate (pulse of 980 nm laser, 2 W·cm −2 ). 67) Thus, one of the future studies would be exploration of single-chirality species with high photodynamic action, based on the optical band gaps 31) and oxidation potentials 68) determined or predicted for each chiral species of semiconducting SWNTs.…”