title: Highly electroconductive multiwalled carbon nanotubes as potentially useful tools for modulating calcium balancing in biological environments.
abstract: Aiming to explore the mechanisms modulating cell-carbon nanotube interactions, we investigated whether Ca(2+) ion balancing between intra- and extracellular environments could be affected by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). We analyzed the effects induced by two different kinds of MWCNTs (as prepared and annealed at 2400°C) on the intracellular Ca(2+) ion levels in rat electrically sensitive cells and on the intercellular junction integrity of rat adenocarcinoma colon cells and platelet aggregation ability, which depend on the Ca(2+) concentration in the medium. MWCNTs, purified by annealing and more electroconductive as compared to nonannealed MWCNTs, affected Ca(2+) ion balancing between extra- and intracellular environments and induced changes on Ca(2+) ion-dependent cellular junctions and platelet aggregation, behaving as the calcium chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid. This could be due to the sorption of cationic Ca(2+) ions on CNTs surface because of the excess of negatively charged electrons on the aromatic units formed on MWCNTs after annealing. From the ClinicAL Editor: The authors investigated whether Ca(2+) ion balance between intra- and extracellular space can be modulated by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Annealed nanotubes induced changes on Ca(2+) dependent cellular junctions and platelet aggregation, behaving similary to ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid, an established calcium chelator.
authors: Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy.
authors: Annalucia
authors: A
authors: Serafino
authors: Anna Rita
authors: AR
authors: Togna
authors: Giuseppina I
authors: GI
authors: Togna
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Lisi
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Ledda
authors: Settimio
authors: S
authors: Grimaldi
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Russier
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Andreola
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Monthioux
authors: Francois
authors: F
authors: Béguin
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Marcaccio
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Rapino
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Paolucci
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Fiorito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048430:Cell Shape; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D017097:Electric Impedance; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D017971:Tin Compounds; C109984:indium tin oxide; D002118:Calcium