title: Internalization of MWCNTs by microglia: possible application in immunotherapy of brain tumors.
abstract: There is a pressing need for new therapeutic, diagnostic, and drug delivery approaches for treating brain cancers. Nanotechnology offers a new method for targeted brain cancer therapy and could play a major role in gene and drug delivery. The goals of our study were to visualize in vitro ingestion, cytotoxicity, and loading capacity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) in microglia. Furthermore, we investigated internalization differences between microglia and glioma cells. BV2 microglia and GL261 glioma cells were incubated with MWCNTs, which were synthesized through catalytic chemical vapor deposition technique. Real-time RT-PCR, cell proliferation analysis, siRNA and DNA loading, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry were performed. We demonstrated that MWCNTs do not result in proliferative or cytokine changes in vitro, are capable of carrying DNA and siRNA and are internalized at higher levels in phagocytic cells as compared to tumor cells. This study suggests MWCNTs could be used as a novel, non-toxic, and biodegradable nano-vehicles for targeted therapy in brain cancers. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the full capacity of MWCNTs as nanovectors.
authors.affiliation: Brain Tumor Program, Department of Neurosurgery, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. Bkateb@IBMISPS.Org
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kateb
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Handel
authors.forename: Leying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bronikowski
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manohara
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Badie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D043942:Nanotubes; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer; D012313:RNA; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004337:Drug Carriers; C034477:RNA primers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020442:Poloxamer; D012313:RNA