Radiation damage and Raman vibrational modes of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Inhibit TRPC4-Mediated Muscarinic Cation Current in Mouse Ileal Myocytes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are characterized by a combination of rather unique physical and chemical properties, which makes them interesting biocompatible nanostructured materials for various applications, including in the biomedical field. SWCNTs are not inert carriers of drug molecules, as they may interact with various biological macromolecules, including ion channels. To investigate the mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of SWCNTs on the muscarinic receptor cation current (mI_CAT), induced by intracellular GTPγs (200 μM), in isolated mouse ileal myocytes, we have used the patch-clamp method in the whole-cell configuration. Here, we use molecular docking/molecular dynamics simulations and direct patch-clamp recordings of whole-cell currents to show that SWCNTs, purified and functionalized by carboxylation in water suspension containing single SWCNTs with a diameter of 0.5–1.5 nm, can inhibit mI_CAT, which is mainly carried by TRPC4 cation channels in ileal smooth muscle cells, and is the main regulator of cholinergic excitation–contraction coupling in the small intestinal tract. This inhibition was voltage-independent and associated with a shortening of the mean open time of the channel. These results suggest that SWCNTs cause a direct blockage of the TRPC4 channel and may represent a novel class of TRPC4 modulators.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes loaded hydroxyapatite-alginate beads with enhanced mechanical properties and sustained drug release ability

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) containing biomaterial with enhanced mechanical properties for the potential orthopedic application were synthesized and investigated. X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis were indications of the formation of calcium-deficient (Ca/P = 1.65) hydroxyapatite (HA) with a small carbonate content under influence of microwave irradiation. The investigated mechanical properties (maximal relative deformation, compressive strength and Young's modulus) of SWCNT loaded HA-alginate composites confirm their dependence on SWCNTs content. The compressive strength of HA-alginate-SWCNT and the HA-alginate control (202 and 159 MPa, respectively) lies within the values characteristic for the cortical bone. The addition of 0.5% SWCNT, in relation to the content of HA, increases the Young's modulus of the HA-alginate-SWCNT (645 MPa) compared to the SWCNT-free HA-alginate sample (563 MPa), and enhances the material shape stability in simulated physiological conditions. Structural modeling of HA-alginate-SWCNT system showed, that physical adsorption of SWCNT into HA-alginate occurs by forming triple complexes stabilized by solvophobic/van der Waals interactions and H-bonds. The high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the influence of SWCNTs on the sustained anaesthesinum drug (used as a model drug) release (456 h against 408 h for SWCNT-free sample). Cell culture assay confirmed biocompatibility and stimulation of osteoblast proliferation of 0.05% and 0.5% SWCNT-containing composites during a 3-day cultivation. All these facts may suggest the potential possibility of using the SWCNT-containing materials, based on HA and alginate, for bone tissue engineering.

In vitro study of the anticancer activity of various doxorubicin-containing dispersions

Introduction: The aim of this research was to study the impact of various doxorubicin (Dox)-containing nanofluids, e.g. singlewalled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)+Dox, graphene oxide (GO)+Dox and DextranPNIPAM (copolymer)+Dox mixtures on HeLa cells (human transformed cervix epithelial cells, as a model for cancer cells) depending on their concentration. Methods: Structural analysis of GO+Dox complex was accomplished using Hartree-Fock level of theory in 6-31G** basis set in Gaussian. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used. The cell viability was analyzed by the MTT assay. Results: The viability of HeLa cells was studied with the MTT assay after the incubation with various Dox-containing dispersions depending on their concentration. The size of the particles was determined by DLS. The morphology of the nanoparticles (NPs) was studied by scanning electron microscopy and their uptake into cells was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. It was found that the Dextran-PNIPAM+Dox nanofluid in contrast to Dox alone showed higher toxicity towards HeLa cells up to 80% after 24 hours of incubation, whereas the SWCNT+Dox and GO+Dox nanofluids at the same concentrations protected cells from Dox. Conclusion: The importance of Dextran-PNIPAM copolymer as a universal platform for drug delivery was established, and the huge potential of Dextran-PNIPAM+Dox NPs as novel anticancer agents was noted. Based on the in vitro study of the SWCNT+Dox and GO+Dox nanofluids, it was concluded that SWCNT and GO NPs can be effective cytoprotectors against the highly toxic drugs.

Synthesis of high purity chain-like carbon nanospheres in ultrahigh yield, and their microwave absorption properties

In the article, we report a simple approach for the mass production of chain-like CNSs over Fe/SnO₂ nanoparticles. And ultrahigh yields (309) of CNCs were reported, and the as-synthesized chain-like CNSs exhibit good microwave absorbing ability.

Morphology-controllable synthesis of carbon nanomaterials directly on Al2O3 substrates, and their photoluminescence

In the article, we report a simple route for the synthesis of carbon nanocoils and chain-like carbon nanospheres directly over Al₂O₃ substrate. The PL studies indicate that the obtained samples show different optical properties.

Structural and Thermal Properties of ACNT by Modified Deposition Method: Growth Time Approach

The knowledge of fabrication method plays an important role in the preparation of aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNT) from natural hydrocarbon feedstock. Here ACNT were successfully synthesized by two-stage catalytic chemical vapor deposition method using organic oil (camphor oil) as a precursor. Synthesis was carried out at a fixed growth temperature of 800 °C and in different growth time: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes. The optimized condition for the growth of ACNT produced a small amount of by-product amorphous carbon and highly uniform crystal structure. The experimental results demonstrated that formation ACNT is also dependent on the growth time. The nanotubes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Thermal properties were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis.

DEFECT EVOLUTION AND STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT IN LOW ENERGY ION IRRADIATED CARBON NANOTUBES: MICROSCOPIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES

The capability of graphitic networks to reorganize their structures under irradiation of energetic particles provides the tool for nano-engineering of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We have studied the effect of 30 keV N + ion irradiation with three different fluences 1012, 1013, and 1014 ions/cm2 on the structural and spectroscopic properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Irradiation-induced structural defects and coalescence of the nanotubes are studied using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Upon irradiation, some of the radial breathing modes in Raman spectra disappear due to conversion from single-walled to multiwalled structure. We observed a systematic change in intensity of the intermediate frequency mode (IFM) with increasing dose of ion-irradiation and these IFM modes are attributed to structural defects of SWNTs. Dramatic improvement in the intensity ratio G-band to D-band (at ~1335 cm-1) for ion fluence of 1013 ions/cm2 indicates improved graphitic structure as a result of reconstruction. Similarly, X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy studies show improvement in the amount of sp 2 carbon upon 1013 ions/cm2 N + ion irradiation dose. At a higher dose (1014 N + ions/cm 2), vacancy and bent structures having Stone–Wales defects were observed in HRTEM, whereas MWNTs show formation of surface hillock like protrusions leading to formation of fullerene-like structures.