title: Neuromodulatory properties of fluorescent carbon dots: effect on exocytotic release, uptake and ambient level of glutamate and GABA in brain nerve terminals.
abstract: Carbon dots (C-dots), a recently discovered class of fluorescent nano-sized particles with pure carbon core, have great bioanalytical potential. Neuroactive properties of fluorescent C-dots obtained from β-alanine by microwave heating were assessed based on the analysis of their effects on the key characteristics of GABA- and glutamatergic neurotransmission in isolated rat brain nerve terminals. It was found that C-dots (40-800 μg/ml) in dose-dependent manner: (1) decreased exocytotic release of [(3)H]GABA and L-[(14)C]glutamate; (2) reduced acidification of synaptic vesicles; (3) attenuated the initial velocity of Na(+)-dependent transporter-mediated uptake of [(3)H]GABA and L-[(14)C]glutamate; (4) increased the ambient level of the neurotransmitters, nevertheless (5) did not change significantly the potential of the plasma membrane of nerve terminals. Almost complete suppression of exocytotic release of the neurotransmitters was caused by C-dots at a concentration of 800 μg/ml. Fluorescent and neuromodulatory features combined in C-dots create base for their potential usage for labeling and visualization of key processes in nerve terminals, and also in theranostics. In addition, natural presence of carbon-containing nanoparticles in the human food chain and in the air may provoke the development of neurologic consequences.
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine. Electronic address: tborisov@biochem.kiev.ua.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borisova
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazarova
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Mariia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dekaliuk
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krisanova
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pozdnyakova
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Arsenii
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borysov
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sivko
authors.affiliation: Dept Neurochemistry and Lab. of Nanobiotechnology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 9 Leontovicha str, Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Demchenko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012997:Solvents; D014316:Tritium; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002244:Carbon; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Brain nerve terminals; Carbon dots; Exocytosis; Na(+)-dependent uptake; Neurotransmitters