title: Cytotoxic and adhesion-associated response of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts to COOH-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
abstract: As novel, promising, man-made nanomaterials with extraordinary properties, carbon nanotubes have been attracting massive attention in regenerative medicine. However, published reports on their potential cytotoxic effects are not concordant and are even conflicting. In the current study, the cytotoxic effects of carboxyl-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs), as well as their influences on the cell adhesion of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, were thoroughly investigated. Live/dead cell viability assay and cell counting kit-8 assay both indicated that the viability of the NIH-3T3 cells exposed to COOH-MWCNTs in the culture medium was dependent on the latter's concentration. Cell viability increased at COOH-MWCNT concentrations below 50 μg ml(-1) and then decreased with increasing concentration. Scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescent staining of the NIH-3T3 cells revealed that the cells were well adherent to the substrate after exposure to the COOH-MWCNTs for 48 h. Western blot demonstrated that COOH-MWCNT exposure enhanced the expression of adhesion-associated proteins compared with normal cells, peaking at an intermediate concentration. Our study showed that the cytotoxicity of COOH-MWCNTs, as well as their effects on NIH-3T3 fibroblast adhesion, was dose dependent. Therefore, COOH-MWCNT concentrations in the cell culture medium should be considered in the biomedical application of COOH-MWCNTs.
authors.affiliation: Higher Education Insitutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peipei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lusi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yongnu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuqiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Seeram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
authors.forename: Liumin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000633:toxicity; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon