title: Fenton-treated functionalized diamond nanoparticles as gene delivery system.
abstract: When raw diamond nanoparticles (Dnp, 7 nm average particle size) obtained from detonation are submitted to harsh Fenton-treatment, the resulting material becomes free of amorphous soot matter and the process maintains the crystallinity, reduces the particle size (4 nm average particle size), increases the surface OH population, and increases water solubility. All these changes are beneficial for subsequent Dnp covalent functionalization and for the ability of Dnp to cross cell membranes. Fenton-treated Dnps have been functionalized with thionine and the resulting sample has been observed in HeLa cell nuclei. A triethylammonium-functionalized Dnp pairs electrostatically with a plasmid having the green fluorescent protein gene and acts as gene delivery system permitting the plasmid to cross HeLa cell membrane, something that does not occur for the plasmid alone without assistance of polycationic Dnp.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica CSIC-UPV and Departamento de Quimica, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Av de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: José Raúl
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Herance
authors.forename: Hermenegildo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D018130:Diamond; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron