Near-infrared fluorescence microscopy of single-walled carbon nanotubes in phagocytic cells.
The uptake of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes into macrophage-like cells has been studied using the nanotubes' intrinsic near-infrared fluorescence. Macrophage samples that have been incubated in growth media containing suspended single-walled nanotubes show characteristic nanotube fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence intensities increase smoothly with incubation time and external nanotube concentration. Near-infrared fluorescence microscopy at wavelengths above 1100 nm provides high contrast images indicating localization of nanotubes in numerous intracellular vesicles. Nanotube uptake appears to occur through phagocytosis. Population growth of macrophage cultures is unaffected by exposure to single-walled nanotube concentrations of ca. 4 mug/mL for up to 96 h.
Cherukuri
Paul
P
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Bachilo
Sergei M
SM
Litovsky
Silvio H
SH
Weisman
R Bruce
RB
D000818:Animals; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon