Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
J Am Chem Soc. 2011 May 11;133(18):6874-7. doi: 10.1021/ja1084282. Epub 2011 Apr 12.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as a new alternative and efficient tool for transporting molecules with biotechnological and biomedical applications, because of their remarkable physicochemical properties. Encapsulation of functional molecules into the hollow chambers of CNTs can not only stabilize encapsulated molecules but also generate new nanodevices. In this work, we have demonstrated that CNTs can function as controllable carriers to transport small-molecule compounds (SMCs) loaded inside their hollow tunnels onto targeted cells. Using indole as model compound, CNTs can protect indole molecules during transportation. Labeling indole-loaded CNTs (indole@CNTs) with EphB4-binding peptides generates cell-homing indole@CNTs (CIDs). CIDs can selectively target EphB4-expressing cells and release indole onto cell surfaces by near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Released indole molecules exhibit significant cell-killing effects without causing local overheating. This establishes CNTs as excellent near-infrared controllable delivery vehicles for SMCs as selective cell-killing agents.
碳纳米管 (CNTs) 因其显著的物理化学特性，已成为一种用于生物技术和生物医学应用的新型有效分子运输工具。将功能分子封装到 CNT 的中空腔室内不仅可以稳定被封装的分子，还可以生成新的纳米器件。在这项工作中，我们已经证明 CNT 可以作为可控载体，将装载在其中空隧道内的小分子化合物 (SMCs) 输送到靶细胞上。使用吲哚作为模型化合物，CNTs 可以在运输过程中保护吲哚分子。用 EphB4 结合肽对负载吲哚的 CNTs（吲哚@CNTs）进行标记，生成具有细胞归巢作用的吲哚@CNTs（CIDs）。CIDs 可以选择性地靶向 EphB4 表达的细胞，并通过近红外 (NIR) 照射将吲哚释放到细胞表面。释放的吲哚分子在不引起局部过热的情况下表现出显著的细胞杀伤作用。这确立了 CNT 作为用于 SMC 的近红外可控输送载体，作为选择性细胞杀伤剂。
