Are PEI-coated SWCNTs conjugated with hepatitis A virus? A chemical study with SEM, Z-potential, EDXD and RT-PCR.
The conjugation between nanotubes, coated with different doses of polyethylene imine (PEI) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Z-potential, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray diffraction (EDXD) and reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For the first time, to our knowledge, evidence is obtained that conjugation between the nanotubes and the HAV occurs and that it has an (at least a partial) electrostatic character. Since all components of the conjugated systems, nanotubes, coating material and virus are characterized by different peak shapes in the selected q range, it was possible to infer that conjugation occurred. RT-PCR measurements confirmed that the conjugation of the coated nanotubes and HAV occurred and the result was stable. This opens up the prospect of probing the coated nanotubes as intra-cellular carriers in transfection processes of the virus. Further biological applications will concern a possible vaccine especially for non-replicative viruses.
Carbone
M
M
Dip. Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. marilena.carbone@roma2.infn.it
Valentini
F
F
Caminiti
R
R
Petrinca
A R
AR
Donia
D
D
Divizia
M
M
Palleschi
G
G
D000941:Antigens; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D007097:Imines; D008853:Microscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020959:Polyethylene; D011095:Polyethylenes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014780:Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D014965:X-Rays
D000941:Antigens; D007097:Imines; D011095:Polyethylenes; D020959:Polyethylene