Biomedical (4)

Citation: Feng Tan, Nuvia Maria Saucedo, Pankaj Ramnani, Ashok Mulchandani,Environ. Sci. Technol. (2015), 49 (15), pp 9256–9263.

Summary: Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is one of the most commonly detected and toxic cyclic heptapeptide cyanotoxins released by cyanobacterial blooms in surface waters, for which sensitive and specific detection methods are necessary to carry out its recognition and quantification. Here, we present a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs)-based label-free chemiresistive immunosensor for highly sensitive and specific detection of MCLR in different source waters. MCLR was initially immobilized on SWCNTs modified interdigitated electrode, followed by incubation with monoclonal anti-MCLR antibody. The competitive binding of MCLR in sample solutions induced departure of the antibody from the antibody–antigen complexes formed on SWCNTs, resulting in change in the conductivity between source and drain of the sensor. The displacement assay greatly improved the sensitivity of the sensor compared with direct immunoassay on the same device. The immunosensor exhibited a wide linear response to log value of MCLR concentration ranging from 1 to 1000 ng/L, with a detection limit of 0.6 ng/L. This method showed good reproducibility, stability and recovery. The proposed method provides a powerful tool for rapid and sensitive monitoring of MCLR in environmental samples.

Citation: Marina V Ivanova,1 Constanze Lamprecht,1 M Jimena Loureiro,1 J Torin Huzil,1,2 and Marianna Foldvari1, International Journal of Nanomedicine 2012, 7, 4030-0415 .

Summary: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are novel materials with considerable potential in many areas related to nanomedicine. However, a major limitation in the development of CNT-based therapeutic nanomaterials is a lack of reliable and reproducible data describing their chemical and structural composition. Knowledge of properties including purity, structural quality, dispersion state, and concentration are essential before CNTs see widespread use in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this work, we describe the characterization of several commercially available and two in-house-produced CNT samples and discuss the physicochemical profiles that will support their use in nanomedicine.

Citation: Chad D. Vecitis, Katherine R. Zodrow, Seoktae Kang, Menachem Elimelech, ACS Nano (2010), 4, 9, 5471-5479.

Summary: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been previously observed to be strong antimicrobial agents, and SWNT coatings can significantly reduce biofilm formation. However, the SWNT antimicrobial mechanism is not fully understood. Previous studies on SWNT cytotoxicity have concluded that membrane stress (i.e., direct SWN–bacteria contact resulting in membrane perturbation and the release of intracellular contents) was the primary cause of cell death. Gene expression studies have indicated oxidative stress may be active, as well. Here, it is demonstrated for the first time how SWNT electronic structure (i.e., metallic versus semiconducting) is a key factor regulating SWNT antimicrobial activity. Experiments were performed with well-characterized SWNTs of similar length and diameter but varying fraction of metallic nanotubes. Loss of Escherichia coli viability was observed to increase with an increasing fraction of metallic SWNTs. Time-dependent cytotoxicity measurements indicated that in all cases the majority of the SWNT antimicrobial action occurs shortly after (<15 min) bacteria–SWNT contact. The SWNT toxicity mechanism was investigated by in vitro SWNT-mediated oxidation of glutathione, a common intracellular thiol that serves as an antioxidant and redox state mediator. The extent of glutathione oxidation was observed to increase with increasing fraction of metallic SWNTs, indicating an elevated role of oxidative stress. Scanning electron microscopy images of E. coli in contact with the SWNTs demonstrated electronic structure-dependent morphological changes consistent with cytotoxicity and glutathione oxidation results. A three-step SWNT antimicrobial mechanism is proposed involving (i) initial SWN–bacteria contact, (ii) perturbation of the cell membrane, and (iii) electronic structure-dependent bacterial oxidation.