Differential sub-cellular processing of single-wall carbon nanotubes via interfacial modifications

Abstract

Strategies for cell-specific targeting and delivery of carbon nanotubes have made significant advancements over recent years. However, control of sub-cellular localization, an important criterion for many biomedical applications, remains largely unexplored. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate how different molecules that are used to non-covalently suspend hydrophobic SWCNTs in aqueous conditions also influence cellular processing and localization. We utilized complementary imaging modalities to show that SWCNTs dispersed using the membrane active tri-block copolymer Pluronic s F-127 (PF127) were endocytosed into cells by the millions but eventually escaped endosomes and altered F-actin structures. In contrast, SWCNTs dispersed with the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) were endocytosed into cells at similarly high levels but remained in the endosomal pathway, ultimately co-registering with endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles. Interestingly, cellular exposure to SWCNTs-BSA in the presence of the endosome disrupter, chloroquine, led to altered F-actin structures that were similar to the alterations induced by cellular exposure to SWCNTs-PF127. These results suggest that PF127 facilitated endosome escape and that SWCNTs might have an energetically favorable interaction with stiff, filamentous structures inside the cell. Thus, our results provide a design principle for non-covalent surface modifications of SWCNTs that do not degrade the desirable, intrinsic SWCNT properties but provide differential trafficking to intracellular compartments for sub-cellular biomedical applications.

Peptide‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide as a bioactive mechanically robust tissue regeneration scaffold

“…Thus, the bright regions of fluorescence are most likely the peptide‐functionalized rCG materials. Overall, the imaging demonstrated that the peptide‐functionalized rCG materials were compatible at the sub‐cellular level, and this is important since other bionanoparticles have been shown to associate with and/or alter the structure of the nucleus, cytoskeleton and mitochondria . We contend that the reduced nature of GO along with the compatible peptides result in a material that is well tolerated by cells.…”

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering to Evaluate Nanomaterial Cytotoxicity on Living Cells

“…A recent report by Holt et al has shown that SWCNTs that were dispersed in bovine serum albumin (BSA) altered the ER distribution of the cells. 39 The colocalization of ER and mitochondria indicates apoptotic Ca 2+ release followed by cell death. During this process ceramide production and phosphatidylinositol production increases, both of which induce certain lipid kinases and several cell-death related pathways.…”

Cell Membrane Proteins Modulate the Carbon Nanotube Optical Bandgap via Surface Charge Accumulation

“…20–24 It is now known that anionic nanotube dispersions ( e.g. , ssDNA-dispersed SWCNTs) enter cells by means of an energy-dependent endocytic mechanism 21,25,26 and exhibit low cytotoxicity.…”