Succinylated β-Lactoglobuline-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Improved Colloidal Stability and Biocompatibility

Abstract

PEGylation (i.e., attachment of polyethylene-glycol) of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is one of the most widely used strategies to improve its biocompatibility and aqueous dispersion stability, which are critical for their successful clinical application. However, PEGylation of nanomaterials has recently been associated with production of anti-PEG antibody, low cellular uptake, and degradation. Herein, we explore surface functionalization of CNTs using the bovine-milk-derived protein succinylated β-lactoglobuline (Sblg) as an alternative strategy to PEGylation. The aqueous dispersion stability, in vitro cell uptake and biocompatibility of Sblg-functionalized multiwalled CNTs (Sblg-f-MWCNTs) was compared to PEGylated MWCNTs (PEG-f-MWCNTs). The surface functionalization with Sblg was found to improve the IC50 values of CNTs by ∼5- to 6-fold in comparison with pristine CNTs in various cell lines. Both Sblg-f-MWCNTs and PEG-f-MWCNTs improved the aqueous colloidal stability of CNTs, which remained suspended for a period of one month. Our study concluded that the Sblg provides a cost-effective alternative to the PEG-based CNT functionalization with significant improvement in the biocompatibility and dispersion stability of CNTs.

Catalytic antimicrobial therapy using nanozymes

“…For example, nanozymes constituted by iron or sulfur can be metabolized by host cells which have corresponding metabolic pathway. In addition, the modification of polyethylene glycol (Jain et al, 2019;Meng et al, 2021), polydopamine (Gong et al, 2021; and polyvinylpyrrolidone (Huang et al, 2015), antimicrobial peptides or proteins (L. F. Zhao et al, 2019) is believed to increase the biocompatibility of nanomaterials.…”

Exploring the Promising Potential of High Permeation Vesicle-Mediated Localized Transdermal Delivery of Docetaxel in Breast Cancer To Overcome the Limitations of Systemic Chemotherapy

“…Finally, cells were fixed using glutaraldehyde solution (2.5% v/v) and observed under CLSM for qualitative estimate of cellular uptake of formulations which is reflected from fluorescent intensity of images. 21 3.5. mide)] in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The cells in 96-well culture plate were exposed blank carriers (as a control) along with test formulations containing incremental DTX concentration (1, 2.5, 5, 10 μM) and incubated for 24 h. After that, the medium was aspirated and cells were washed thrice with PBS (pH 7.4) followed by addition of 200 μL of MTT solution to each well and incubated further for 4 h. The cell viability was indicated by metabolic conversion of MTT to purple colored formazan by living cells.…”

“…After completion of incubation, the medium was replaced and incubated with C6 loaded HPVs at concentration equivalent to 10 μM for 2 h. Finally, the cells were washed thrice with HBSS and observed under CLSM for qualitative cellular uptake of HPVs reflected from the fluorescent intensity of cells. 21 3.6. In Vivo Studies.…”

Advances in Drug Delivery Nanosystems Using Graphene-Based Materials and Carbon Nanotubes

“…The surface functionalization with the bovine-milk-derived protein, succinylated β-lactoglobuline, can be considered as a cost-effective alternative to the PEG-based CNTs, leading to considerable amelioration of the biocompatibility and dispersion stability of CNTs, whereby MWCNTs functionalized with this protein were able to improve the IC 50 values by ca. 5–6-fold compared to pristine MWCNTs in various cell lines [ 298 ].…”