Direct imaging the subcellular localization of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Feifan Zhou; Da Xing; Wei R. Chen

doi:10.1117/12.874307

10 February 2011 Direct imaging the subcellular localization of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Feifan Zhou, Da Xing, Wei R. Chen

Proceedings Volume 7900, Biophotonics and Immune Responses VI; 79000E (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.874307
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2011, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The development of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for various biomedical applications is an area of great promise. However, the contradictory data on the interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with cells highlight the need to study their uptake and cytotoxic effects in cells. Here, we use confocal microscopy to image the translocation of single-walled carbon nanotubes into cells and localization on the subcellular organelle. We also observe that single-walled carbon nanotubes do not affect the cellular condition and mitochondrial membrane potential. One intrinsic property of single-walled carbon nanotubes is their strong optical absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region. It could be used to selectively increase the thermal destructions in the target tumors. A specific type of SWNT by the CoMoCAT method has an intense absorption band at 980 nm. When irradiated with a 980-nm laser, the single-walled carbon nanotubes affect the cellular oxidation and destroy the mitochondrial membrane potential, and induce cell apoptosis. Thus, the single-walled carbon nanotubes appear to enter the cytoplasm without cytotoxic effects in cells, and can be used as effective and selective nanomaterials for cancer photothermal therapy.

Citation Download Citation

Feifan Zhou, Da Xing, and Wei R. Chen "Direct imaging the subcellular localization of single-walled carbon nanotubes", Proc. SPIE 7900, Biophotonics and Immune Responses VI, 79000E (10 February 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.874307

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