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Zemek J, Houdkova J, Jiricek P, Kocourek T. Amorphous Carbon Nitride Films: Surface and Subsurface Composition and Bonding. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:19538-19547. [PMID: 39213589 PMCID: PMC11411727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c02007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
To obtain quantitative information about the composition and bonding of atoms located at and beyond the analyzed solid surface nondestructively, we applied angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy aided by the maximum entropy method to air-exposed amorphous carbon nitride films deposited by pulsed laser deposition of diamond-like carbon modified by low-energy nitrogen ion bombardment during film growth. We demonstrate that the composition, chemical bonding, and mass density vary significantly from the top surface to a shallow subsurface region. The analyzed samples, in a shallow surface region of ∼1 nm, are composed of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and mostly carbon in sp2 hybridization. In a deeper region, the C sp3 content increases substantially going to a maximum, whereas the nitrogen percentage decreases to a minimum, then increases, and tends to saturate. Special attention has been paid to in-depth distributions of carbon atoms in trigonal and tetragonal arrangements because they specify numerous physical and chemical properties of carbon-based materials. These results indicate that the interaction of DLC:N surfaces with surroundings can be influenced, barring oxygen and nitrogen, by sp2-bonded carbon atoms located near the surface of the samples. The obtained results can be useful for developing a deeper understanding of the interaction between DLC:N layer surfaces and their surroundings and particularly with living tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Zemek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Houdkova
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jiricek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Kocourek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
- Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, nam. Sitna 3105, 27201 Kladno, Czech Republic
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Dunphy A, Patel K, Belperain S, Pennington A, Chiu NHL, Yin Z, Zhu X, Priebe B, Tian S, Wei J, Yi X, Jia Z. Modulation of Macrophage Polarization by Carbon Nanodots and Elucidation of Carbon Nanodot Uptake Routes in Macrophages. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1116. [PMID: 33925858 PMCID: PMC8145848 DOI: 10.3390/nano11051116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis represents an ever-present global concern, as it is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and an immense public welfare issue. Macrophages play a key role in the onset of the disease state and are popular targets in vascular research and therapeutic treatment. Carbon nanodots (CNDs) represent a type of carbon-based nanomaterial and have garnered attention in recent years for potential in biomedical applications. This investigation serves as a foremost attempt at characterizing the interplay between macrophages and CNDs. We have employed THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages as our target cell line representing primary macrophages in the human body. Our results showcase that CNDs are non-toxic at a variety of doses. THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophages by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and co-treatment with 0.1 mg/mL CNDs. This co-treatment significantly increased the expression of CD 206 and CD 68 (key receptors involved in phagocytosis) and increased the expression of CCL2 (a monocyte chemoattractant and pro-inflammatory cytokine). The phagocytic activity of THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages co-treated with 0.1 mg/mL CNDs also showed a significant increase. Furthermore, this study also examined potential entrance routes of CNDs into macrophages. We have demonstrated an inhibition in the uptake of CNDs in macrophages treated with nocodazole (microtubule disruptor), N-phenylanthranilic acid (chloride channel blocker), and mercury chloride (aquaporin channel inhibitor). Collectively, this research provides evidence that CNDs cause functional changes in macrophages and indicates a variety of potential entrance routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dunphy
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
| | - Kamal Patel
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
| | - Sarah Belperain
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
| | - Aubrey Pennington
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
| | - Norman H. L. Chiu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA;
- Department of Nanoscience, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA; (Z.Y.); (J.W.)
| | - Ziyu Yin
- Department of Nanoscience, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA; (Z.Y.); (J.W.)
| | - Xuewei Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA;
| | - Brandon Priebe
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
| | - Shaomin Tian
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Jianjun Wei
- Department of Nanoscience, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA; (Z.Y.); (J.W.)
| | - Xianwen Yi
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Zhenquan Jia
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 312 Eberhart Building, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27402-617, USA; (A.D.); (K.P.); (S.B.); (A.P.); (B.P.)
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