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Viability Studies of Pure Carbon‐ and Nitrogen‐Doped Nanotubes with Entamoeba histolytica : From Amoebicidal to Biocompatible Structures
Author(s) -
Elías Ana Laura,
CarreroSánchez Julio César,
Terrones Humberto,
Endo Morinobu,
Laclette Juan Pedro,
Terrones Mauricio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200700331
Subject(s) - entamoeba histolytica , biocompatibility , carbon nanotube , phagocytosis , materials science , entamoeba , lysis , biocompatible material , in vitro , cytotoxicity , nanotechnology , carbon fibers , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , composite material , biomedical engineering , medicine , metallurgy , composite number
In vitro phagocytosis assays with Entamoeba histolytica as a model system are used to define the biocompatibility of undoped multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and N‐doped (CN x ) MWCNTs. The CN x MWCNTs were innocuous to the proliferation of the trophozoites, whereas MWCNTs became lethal. CN x MWCNTs were actively phagocyted by trophozoites with no evidence of cellular damage or distress, in contrast to MWCNTs that induced cellular lysis. The amoebicidal action of pure carbon MWCNTs (see image) could be exploited to develop new tools against amoebiasis.