Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and Cytocompatibility.
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have unique physical properties, of value in biomedical applications; however, their dispersion and functionalization represent a critical challenge in their successful employment as biomaterials. In the present study, we report a process for the efficient disentanglement of BNNTs via a dual surfactant/polydopamine (PD) process. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) indicated that individual BNNTs become coated with a uniform PD nanocoating, which significantly enhanced dispersion of BNNTs in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the cytocompatibility of PD-coated BNNTs was assessed in vitro with cultured human osteoblasts (HOBs) at concentrations of 1, 10, and 30 μg/mL and over three time-points (24, 48, and 72 h). In this study it was demonstrated that PD-functionalized BNNTs become individually localized within the cytoplasm by endosomal escape and that concentrations of up to 30 μg/mL of PD-BNNTs were cytocompatible in HOBs cells following 72 h of exposure.
Marc A
MA
Fernandez-Yague
Department of Mining-Metallurgy Engineering and Materials Science & POLYMAT, School of Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) , 480130 Bilbao, Spain.
Aitor
A
Larrañaga
Olga
O
Gladkovskaya
Department of Anatomy, National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) , Galway, Ireland.
Alanna
A
Stanley
Ghazal
G
Tadayyon
Department of Physics and Energy, and Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI), University of Limerick , Limerick, Ireland.
Yina
Y
Guo
Department of Mining-Metallurgy Engineering and Materials Science & POLYMAT, School of Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) , 480130 Bilbao, Spain.
Jose-Ramon
JR
Sarasua
Department of Physics and Energy, and Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI), University of Limerick , Limerick, Ireland.
Syed A M
SA
Tofail
Dimitrios I
DI
Zeugolis
Abhay
A
Pandit
Manus J
MJ
Biggs
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002021:Buffers; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D002021:Buffers; D007211:Indoles; D011108:Polymers; C568283:polydopamine; C017282:boron nitride