Cytocompatibility, interactions, and uptake of polyethyleneimine-coated boron nitride nanotubes by living cells: confirmation of their potential for biomedical applications.
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have unique physical properties, which can be exploited in the biomedical field. Hence, the surprising lack of reported studies on their biocompatibility and interactions with living cells, addressed by the present paper which deals the results of such an investigation based on 72 h culture of human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) in the presence of an aqueous suspension of polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated BNNTs. BNNTs conjugated with fluorescent markers (quantum dots) are employed to enable tracking of their uptake by living cells. The results demonstrate good cytocompatibility together with unequivocal BNNT cellular uptake by an energy-dependent endocytic process.
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33-56127 Pisa, Italy. g.ciofani@sssup.it
Gianni
G
Ciofani
Vittoria
V
Raffa
Arianna
A
Menciassi
Alfred
A
Cuschieri
D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004705:Endocytosis; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D001896:Boron Compounds; C017282:boron nitride; D011094:Polyethyleneimine