The University of Oklahoma School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA.
J Phys Chem B. 2013 Jun 6;117(22):6749-58. doi: 10.1021/jp4039336. Epub 2013 May 23.
Because of their unique physical, chemical, and electrical properties, carbon nanotubes are an attractive material for many potential applications. Their interactions with biological entities are, however, not yet completely understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we present experimental results for aqueous systems containing single-walled carbon nanotubes and phospholipid membranes, prepared in the form of liposomes. Our results suggest that dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes, instead of piercing the liposome membranes, adsorb on them at low ionic strength. Transmission electron microscopy and dye-leakage experiments show that the liposomes remain for the most part intact in the presence of the nanotubes. Further, the liposomes are found to stabilize carbon nanotube dispersions when the surfactant sodium dodecylbenezenesulfonate is present at low concentrations. Quantifying the interactions between carbon nanotubes and phospholipid membranes could not only shed light on potential nanotubes cytotoxicity but also open up new research venues for their use in controlled drug delivery and/or gene and cancer therapy.
由于其独特的物理、化学和电学性质，碳纳米管是许多潜在应用的理想材料。然而，它们与生物实体的相互作用尚未完全了解。为了填补这一知识空白，我们展示了含有单壁碳纳米管和磷脂膜的水溶液系统的实验结果，这些系统以脂质体的形式制备。我们的结果表明，在低离子强度下，分散的单壁碳纳米管不是刺穿脂质体膜，而是吸附在它们上。透射电子显微镜和染料泄漏实验表明，在存在纳米管的情况下，脂质体大部分保持完整。此外，当低浓度存在表面活性剂十二烷基苯磺酸钠时，脂质体被发现可以稳定碳纳米管分散体。量化碳纳米管和磷脂膜之间的相互作用不仅可以揭示潜在的纳米管细胞毒性，还可以为它们在控制药物输送和/或基因和癌症治疗中的应用开辟新的研究途径。
