title: Can amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes carry functional nerve growth factor?
abstract: Carbon nanotubes can carry protein into cells to induce biological effects. Amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes are soluble and biocompatible, have high reactivity and low toxicity, and can help promote nerve cell growth. In this study, amino-functionalized ethylenediamine-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used to prepare carbon nanotubes-nerve growth factor complexes by non-covalent grafting. The physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity to PC12 and chick embryo dorsal root ganglion, and biological activity of the carbon nanotubes-nerve growth factor complexes were investigated. The results showed that amino functionalization improved carbon nanotubes-nerve growth factor complex dispersibility, reduced their toxicity to PC12 cells, and promoted PC12 cell differentiation and chick embryo dorsal root ganglion.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China ; School of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Reigion, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Reigion, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Reigion, China.
authors.forename: Quanxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Reigion, China.
authors.forename: Yake
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: NSFC grant; PC12 cells; amino functionalization; biological activity; carbon nanotubes; chick embryo dorsal root ganglion; cytotoxicity; dispersibility; nerve growth factor; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; spinal cord injury