title: Ex vivo impact of functionalized carbon nanotubes on human immune cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different studies, carried out by us and others, have investigated the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in vitro and in animal models. To date, only a few studies have been performed on human cells ex vivo. There is also a lack of comparison between CNTs with varied functionalization and structural properties and their impact on different cell types.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present ex vivo human study focuses on the impact of a series of functionalized multiwalled CNTs on human T and B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smaller diameter nanotubes are internalized more efficiently. Viability assays displayed the absence of cytotoxicity of all multiwalled CNTs used. Activation assay demonstrated a strong effect on monocytes and NK cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results, on human cells ex vivo, confirmed previous studies demonstrating appropriately functionalized CNTs are nontoxic. The effects on cell functionality were significant for the monocytes and NK cells. These findings encourage the possible use of CNTs for biomedical applications either as carriers of therapeutic molecules or as immune modulator systems.
authors: Dipartimento di scienze del farmaco Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, via Muroni 23 A, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Lucia Gemma
authors: LG
authors: Delogu
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: Venturelli
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Manetti
authors: Gérard Aimé
authors: GA
authors: Pinna
authors: Ciriaco
authors: C
authors: Carru
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Madeddu
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Murgia
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Sgarrella
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Dumortier
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Bianco
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon