Transferrin-conjugated boron nitride nanotubes: protein grafting, characterization, and interaction with human endothelial cells.
In this paper we report on a covalent grafting of boron nitride nanotubes with human transferrin. After silanization of the nanotube wall, transferrin was linked to the nanotubes through carbamide binding. The obtained transferrin-conjugated boron nitride nanotubes (tf-BNNTs) resulted stable in aqueous environments and were characterized in terms of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, size distribution analysis and Z-potential measurement. Effective covalent grafting of transferrin was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The obtained tf-BNNTs were thereafter tested on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs); in particular cellular up-take was investigated by confocal, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, demonstrating the key role of transferrin during the internalization process. Here reported for the first time in the literature, the covalent BNNT functionalization with a targeting ligand represents a fundamental step towards BNNT exploitation as smart and selective nanocarriers in a number of nanomedicine applications.
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for MicroBioRobotics @SSSA, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (Pisa), Italy. gianni.ciofani@iit.it
Gianni
G
Ciofani
Serena
S
Del Turco
Giada Graziana
GG
Genchi
Delfo
D
D'Alessandro
Giuseppina
G
Basta
Virgilio
V
Mattoli
D001692:Biological Transport; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
D001896:Boron Compounds; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; C017282:boron nitride