How do functionalized carbon nanotubes land on, bind to and pierce through model and plasma membranes.
Study of the mechanisms understanding how chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes internalize into mammalian cells is important in view of their design as new tools for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The initial contact between the nanotube and the cell membrane allows elucidation of the types of interaction that are occurring and the contribution from the types of functional groups at the nanotube surface. Here we offer a combination of experimental and theoretical evidence of the initial phases of interaction between functionalized carbon nanotubes with model and cellular membranes. Both experimental and theoretical data reveal the critical parameters to determine direct translocation of the nanotubes through the membrane into the cytoplasm as a result of three distinct processes that can be summarized as landing, piercing and uptake.
Nanomedicine Lab, School of Medicine & National Graphene Institute, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. kostas.kostarelos@manchester.ac.uk.
Lara
L
Lacerda
Hanene
H
Ali-Boucetta
Sebastian
S
Kraszewski
Mounir
M
Tarek
Maurizio
M
Prato
Christophe
C
Ramseyer
Kostas
K
Kostarelos
Alberto
A
Bianco
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D008081:Liposomes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon