title: Efficient and rapid uptake of magnetic carbon nanotubes into human monocytic cells: implications for cell-based cancer gene therapy.
abstract: Monocyte-based gene therapies in cancer have been hampered by either the resistance of these cells to non-viral molecular delivery methods or their poor trafficking to the tumor site after their ex vivo manipulations. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP)-loaded genetically engineered monocytes can efficiently delivered to tumor site by external magnetic field, but they are not ideal delivery tools due to their spherical shape. Hence, we have investigated the cellular uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled magnetic carbon nanotubes (FITC-mCNT) in human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 for application in cell-based gene therapy against cancer. Uptake of FITC-mCNT into THP-1 cells reached 100% only 1 h after the delivery. Confocal imaging confirmed that FITC-mCNT entered the cell cytoplasm and even into the nucleus. FITC-mCNT uptake did not compromise cell viability. This delivery system might therefore enhance cell-based cancer gene therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2V2, Canada.
authors.forename: Hilal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gul-Uludag
authors.forename: Weibing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D004705:Endocytosis; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D019793:Fluorescein