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Preparation and Cellular Uptake of pH‐Dependent Fluorescent Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Author(s) -
Zhang Xiaoke,
Meng Lingjie,
Wang Xuefeng,
Lu Qinghua
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200901168
Subject(s) - endocytosis , acridine orange , fluorescence , intracellular , carbon nanotube , internalization , biophysics , transmission electron microscopy , hela , fluorescence microscope , absorbance , nanotechnology , clathrin , chemistry , drug delivery , cell , materials science , biochemistry , apoptosis , biology , chromatography , physics , quantum mechanics
Fluorescent single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were prepared by mixing cut SWCNTs with acridine orange (AO). The optical absorbance and fluorescence characteristics of AO–SWCNT conjugates display interesting pH‐dependent properties. Fluorescence microscopy in combination with transmission electron microscopy proves that AO–SWCNTs can enter HeLa cells and are located inside lysosomes. The endocytosis‐inhibiting tests show that the clathrin‐mediated endocytosis is a key step in the internalization process. The internalized AO–SWCNTs remain inside lysosomes for more than a week and have little effect on cell proliferation. These findings may be useful in understanding the SWCNT‐based intracellular drug delivery mechanism and help to develop new intracellular drug transporters.