An investigation of the carbon nanotube--Lipid interface and its impact upon pulmonary surfactant lipid function.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are now synthesized on a large scale, increasing the risk of occupational inhalation. However, little is known of the MWCNT-pulmonary surfactant (PS) interface and its effect on PS functionality. The Langmuir-Blodgett trough was used to evaluate the impact of MWCNTs on fundamental properties of PS lipids which influence PS function, i.e. compression resistance and maximum obtainable pressure. Changes were found to be MWCNT length-dependent. 'Short' MWCNTs (1.1 μm, SD = 0.61) penetrated the lipid film, reducing the maximum interfacial film pressure by 10 mN/m (14%) in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and PS, at an interfacial MWCNT-PS lipid mass ratio range of 50:1 to 1:1. 'Long' commercial MWCNTs (2.1 μm, SD = 1.2) caused compression resistance at the same mass loadings. 'Very long' MWCNTs (35 μm, SD = 19) sequestered DPPC and were squeezed out of the DPPC film. High resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed that all MWCNT morphologies formed DPPC coronas with ordered arrangements. These results provide insight into how nanoparticle aspect ratio affects the interaction mechanisms with PS, in its near-native state at the air-water interface.
Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Electronic address: j.melbourne11@imperial.ac.uk.
Jodie
J
Melbourne
Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Adam
A
Clancy
National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK.
Joanna
J
Seiffert
Multi-Imaging Centre, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK.
Jeremy
J
Skepper
National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK.
Teresa D
TD
Tetley
Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Milo S P
MS
Shaffer
Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Electronic address: a.porter@imperial.ac.uk.
Alexandra
A
Porter
D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D019245:Compressive Strength; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013696:Temperature
D008055:Lipids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine
Electron microscopy; Langmuir–Blodgett film; Lipid; Lung; Nanoparticle