Noncovalent sidewall functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes for protein immobilization

Application of surface chemical analysis tools for characterization of nanoparticles

The important role that surface chemical analysis methods can and should play in the characterization of nanoparticles is described. The types of information that can be obtained from analysis of nanoparticles using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), low-energy ion scattering (LEIS), and scanning-probe microscopy (SPM), including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), are briefly summarized. Examples describing the characterization of engineered nanoparticles are provided. Specific analysis considerations and issues associated with using surface-analysis methods for the characterization of nanoparticles are discussed and summarized, with the impact that shape instability, environmentally induced changes, deliberate and accidental coating, etc., have on nanoparticle properties.

Shape effect of carbon nanovectors on angiogenesis

Physically diverse carbon nanostructures are increasingly being studied for potential applications in cancer chemotherapy. However, limited knowledge exists on the effect of their shape in tuning the biological outcomes when used as nanovectors for drug delivery. In this study, we evaluated the effect of doxorubicin-conjugated single walled carbon nanotubes (CNT-Dox) and doxorubicin-conjugated spherical polyhydroxylated fullerenes or fullerenols (Ful-Dox) on angiogenesis. We report that CNTs exert a pro-angiogenic effect in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the fullerenols or doxorubicin-conjugated fullerenols exerted a dramatically opposite antiangiogenic activity in zebrafish and murine tumor angiogenesis models. Dissecting the angiogenic phenotype into discrete cellular steps revealed that fullerenols inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, while CNTs attenuated the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin on the endothelial cells. Interestingly, CNT promoted endothelial tubulogenesis, a late step during angiogenesis. Further, mechanistic studies revealed that CNTs, but not fullerenols, induced integrin clustering and activated focal adhesion kinase and downstream phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in endothelial cells, which can explain the distinct angiogenic outcomes. The results of the study highlight the function of physical parameters of nanoparticles in determining their activity in biological settings.

Single-walled carbon nanotube-conjugated chemotherapy exhibits increased therapeutic index in melanoma

The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing at an alarming rate globally. Poor prognosis and extraordinarily low survival rates of malignant melanoma necessitates the development of new chemotherapeutic strategies. An emerging approach is to harness nanotechnology to optimize the existing chemotherapies. In the present study we have demonstrated that the delivery of doxorubicin using a nanotechnology-based platform significantly reduces the systemic toxicity of the drug, keeping unchanged its therapeutic efficacy in a mouse melanoma tumor model. Specifically we modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to conjugate a doxorubicin prodrug via a carbamate linker that cleaves enzymatically to cause temporal release of the active drug. The CNT-doxorubicin conjugate (CNT-Dox) induced time-dependent cell death in B16-F10 melanoma cells in vitro. The nanoparticle was rapidly internalized into the lysosome of melanoma cells and was retained in the subcellular compartment for over 24 h. In an in vivo melanoma model, treatment with the nanotube-doxorubicin conjugate abrogated tumor growth without the systemic side-effects associated with free doxorubicin. Our studies demonstrate that a simple and versatile CNT-based nanovector can be harnessed for the delivery of chemotherapy to melanoma, with increased therapeutic index.

Effects of carbon nanotubes on the proliferation and differentiation of primary osteoblasts

This chapter provides a detailed protocol for studying the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the proliferation, differentiation, adipocytic transdifferentiation, and mineralization of primary osteoblasts. SWNTs, DWNTs, and MWNTs with the same mean length and various diameters were shown to reduce the viability of osteoblasts and inhibit the adipocytic transdifferentiation in both time- and dose-dependent manners. The order of inhibition effect is SWNTs > DWNTs > MWNTs. CNTs were found to inhibit the formation of mineralized nodules greatly and dose-dependently during the final stage of osteoblast differentiation, causing a 50% decrease in the formation of mineralized nodules at the concentration of 50 microg/mL. The expression of important proteins such as Runx-2 and Col-I in osteoblasts was also greatly inhibited by the CNTs. TEM results revealed that the effects on cellular behavior may be exerted by the CNTs from in- and outside of the cells.

Covalently linked deoxyribonucleic acid with multi-walled carbon nanotubes: synthesis and characterization

In this chapter, a multi-step protocol for covalently linking functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides is provided. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to characterize the initially formed amine-terminated MWCNTs, to which DNA is covalently anchored. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation of the DNA-MWCNT conjugates reveals that the chemical functionalization occurs at both the ends and sidewalls of the nanotubes. The described methodology represents an important step toward the realization of DNA-guided self-assembly for carbon nanotubes.

Regulation of enzyme activity through interactions with nanoparticles

The structure and function of an enzyme can be altered by nanoparticles (NPs). The interaction between enzyme and NPs is governed by the key properties of NPs, such as structure, size, surface chemistry, charge and surface shape. Recent representative studies on the NP-enzyme interactions and the regulation of enzyme activity by NPs with different size, composition and surface modification are reviewed.

New anthracene-tetrathiafulvalene derivative-encapsulated SWNT nanocomposite and its application for biosensing

In this study, a novel anthracene-tetrathiafulvalene derivative has been synthesized and immobilized on single-walled carbon nanotubes through non-covalent sidewall functionalization. The new anthracene-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative-encapsulated SWNT nanocomposites were characterized using SEM, TEM, and Raman spectra and were utilized for biomolecular recognition. Our observations demonstrate that the new anthracene-TTF derivative-encapsulated SWNT nanocomposites can readily facilitate the biosensing and sensitive detection of DNA, which could be further explored for promising applications in bioelectronics and biosensors.

Polysiloxane surfactants for the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in nonpolar organic solvents

We develop two new amphiphilic molecules that are shown to act as efficient surfactants for carbon nanotubes in nonpolar organic solvents. The active conjugated groups, which are highly attracted to the graphene nanotube surface, are based on pyrene and porphyrin. We show that relatively short (C18) carbon tails are insufficient to provide stabilization. As our ultimate aim is to disperse and stabilize nanotubes in siloxane matrix (polymer and cross-linked elastomer), both surfactant molecules were made with long siloxane tails to facilitate solubility and steric stabilization. We show that the pyrene-siloxane surfactant is very effective in dispersing multiwall nanotubes, while the porphyrin-siloxane makes single-wall nanotubes soluble, both in petroleum ether and in siloxane matrix.

Fabrication of high-capacity biomolecular carriers from dispersible single-walled carbon nanotube-polymer composites

One of the most interesting applications for carbon nanotubes is as a support material for bioanalytical devices. In this work, we successfully used an ultraviolet light initiated "graft from" polymerization method to fabricate polymer functionalized carbon nanotubes (PFCNTs) with pendant chains of various functionalities, including poly(ethylene glycol) chains to boost dispersibility and pendant epoxy groups for protein conjugate sites. A model enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, was used to study biomolecule loading efficiency as well as the retention of enzyme activity. Samples with various ratios of the two monomers were fabricated to optimize their use in aqueous environments, and an optimal composition was determined. This method allows the enhancement of enzyme loading amount while retaining high enzyme activity. The morphology of the carbon nanotubes were characterized by STEM and AFM before and after functionalization. In addition, the resulting PFCNTs were analyzed by FT-IR, TGA, and XPS.

A study of the dynamic interaction of surfactants with graphite and carbon nanotubes using Fmoc-amino acids as a model system

We have studied the dynamic interaction of surfactants with carbon surfaces by using a series of Fmoc- (N-(fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl)) terminated amino acid derivatives (Fmoc-X, where X is glycine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or histidine) as a model system. In these systems, highly conjugated fluorenyl groups and aromatic amino acid side chains interact with the carbon surface, while carboxylate groups provide an overall negative charge. Ideal carbon surfaces were selected which possessed either predominantly macroscale (graphite) or nanoscale features (multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) mats). The adsorption equilibrium for the Fmoc-X solutions with the graphitic surfaces was well-described by the Freundlich model. When a library containing various Fmoc-X compounds were exposed to a target graphite surface, Fmoc-tryptophan was found to bind preferentially at the expense of the other components present, leading to a substantial difference in the observed binding behavior compared to individual adsorption experiments. This approach therefore provides a straightforward means to identify good surfactants within a library of many candidates. Finally, the fully reversible nature of Fmoc-X binding was demonstrated by switching the surface chemistry of carbon substrate through sequential exposure to surfactants with increasing binding energies.