Chapter 16 - Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications in Drug-Delivery Systems
International audience; Nanoparticles are increasingly being considered in the medical field as an effective means to deliver drugs of interest or as diagnostic biosensors. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an allotropic form of carbon related to the fullerene family. Their exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electronical properties together with their tubular shape, offering a high surface area and enabling adsorption or conjugation of a wide variety of therapeutic drugs or diagnostic agents, make CNTs attractive platforms for the treatment of various diseases. This chapter reviews the emerging synthesis, characterization, and and discusses the perspectives and obstacles of these promising nano…
From Behavior of Water on Hydrophobic Graphene Surfaces to Ultra-Confinement of Water in Carbon Nanotubes
In recent years and with the achievement of nanotechnologies, the development of experiments based on carbon nanotubes has allowed to increase the ionic permeability and/or selectivity in nanodevices. However, this new technology opens the way to many questionable observations, to which theoretical work can answer using several approximations. One of them concerns the appearance of a negative charge on the carbon surface, when the latter is apparently neutral. Using first-principles density functional theory combined with molecular dynamics, we develop here several simulations on different systems in order to understand the reactivity of the carbon surface in low or ultra-high confinement. …
Encapsulation capacity and natural payload delivery of an anticancer drug from boron nitride nanotube.
The behavior of confined anticancer carboplatin (CPT) molecules in a single (10, 10) boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) was studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Our study revealed a very large storage capacity of BNNT. Analysis of the energy profiles depending on the number of confined molecules, and on their spatial organization allowed us to quantify the ability of BNNT to vectorize CPT. Indeed, BNNT despite its small radius presented a large inner volume that favored stable encapsulation of multiple active anticancer molecules. Moreover, in our molecular dynamics simulations, the empty BNNT and the BNNT filled with CPT diffused spontaneously to the cell membrane and were able t…
Nanovectorization of TRAIL with single wall carbon nanotubes enhances tumor cell killing
International audience; Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or Apo2L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. This type II transmembrane protein is able to bound specifically to cancer cell receptors (i.e., TRAIL-R1 (or DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (or DR5)) and to induce apoptosis without being toxic for healthy cells. Because membrane-bound TRAIL induces stronger receptor aggregation and apoptosis than soluble TRAIL, we proposed here to vectorize TRAIL using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to mimic membrane TRAIL. Owing to their exceptional and revolutional properties, carbon nanotubes, especially SWCNTs, are used in a wide range of physical or,…
Impact of surface state on polyethylene glycol conformation confined inside a nanopore.
Solid-state nanopores are a promising platform for characterizing proteins. In order to improve their lifetime and prevent fouling, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) grafting is one of the most efficient and low-cost solutions. Different models to calculate the PEG thickness do not consider their interaction with the nanopore inner surface nor the effect of confinement. Here, we investigate by molecular dynamic simulation the PEG conformation inside a nanopore in the case of hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanopores. Our results reveal that the nanopore inner surface plays a role in the PEG organization and, thus, in the speed of the salt constituent. The resulting pair interaction between PEG and its …
Polynucleotide differentiation using hybrid solid-state nanopore functionalizing with α-hemolysin
We report results from full atomistic molecular dynamics simulations on the properties of biomimetic nanopores. This latter result was obtained through the direct insertion of an α-hemolysin protein inside a hydrophobic solid-state nanopore. Upon translocation of different DNA strands, we demonstrate here that the theoretical system presents the same discrimination properties as the experimental one obtained previously. This opens an interesting way to promote the stability of a specific protein inside a solid nanopore to develop further biomimetic applications for DNA or protein sequencing.
Carbon Nanotubes
Abstract Nanoparticles are increasingly being considered in the medical field as an effective means to deliver drugs of interest or as diagnostic biosensors. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an allotropic form of carbon related to the fullerene family. Their exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electronical properties together with their tubular shape, offering a high surface area and enabling adsorption or conjugation of a wide variety of therapeutic drugs or diagnostic agents, make CNTs attractive platforms for the treatment of various diseases. This chapter reviews the emerging synthesis, characterization, and medical applications of CNTs and discusses the perspectives and obstacles of these …
Conical nanopores highlight the pro-aggregating effects of pyrimethanil fungicide on Aβ(1-42) peptides and dimeric splitting phenomena.
International audience; The Aβ(1-42) aggregation is a key event in the physiopathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Exogenous factors such as environmental pollutants, and more particularly pesticides, can corrupt Aβ(1-42) assembly and could influence the occurrence and pathophysiology of AD. However, pesticide involvement in the early stages of Aβ(1-42) aggregation is still unknown. Here, we employed conical track-etched nanopore in order to analyse the Aβ(1-42) fibril formation in the presence of pyrimethanil, a widely used fungicide belonging to the anilinopyrimidine class. Our results evidenced a pro-aggregating effect of pyrimethanil on Aβ(1-42). Aβ(1-42) assemblies were successfully d…
Electronic and optical properties of CeO 2 from first principles calculations
International audience; First-principles calculations of the electronic structure of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were performed to investigate published experimental data obtained by different spectroscopies. The main features of the valence and conduction bands have been analyzed from the total and partial density of states. Several functionals were applied to interpret and quantify the optical properties, including the dielectric function, extinction coefficient and refractive index. It is found that the on-site hybrid functional B3PW91 modelled most suitably the band gap region of CeO2 NPs and consequently gave a more accurate band gap value. It also agreed very well with the experimental v…
Voltage-activated transport of ions through single-walled carbon nanotubes
International audience; Ionic transport through single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is promising for many applications but remains both experimentally challenging and highly debated. Here we report ionic current measurements through microfluidic devices containing one or several SWCNTs of diameter of 1.2 to 2 nm unexpectedly showing a linear or a voltage-activated I-V dependence. Transition from an activated to a linear behavior, and stochastic fluctuations between different current levels were notably observed. For linear devices, the high conductance confirmed with different chloride salts indicates that the nanotube/water interface exhibits both a high surface charge density and flow…
Simulations of a Graphene Nanoflake as a Nanovector To Improve ZnPc Phototherapy Toxicity: From Vacuum to Cell Membrane
International audience; We propose a new approach to improving photodynamic therapy (PDT) by transporting zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) in biological systems via a graphene nanoflake, to increase its targeting. Indeed, by means of time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we show that the ZnPc molecule in interaction with a graphene nanoflake preserves its optical properties not only in a vacuum but also in water. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulations demonstrate that the graphene nanoflake/ZnPc association, as a carrier, permits one to stabilize the ZnPc/graphene nanoflake system on the cellular membrane, which was not possible when using ZnPc alone. We finally conclude that the…
Theoretical use of boron nitride nanotubes as a perfect container for anticancer molecules
International audience; In recent years great interest has emerged in the development of nanocarriers for drug transport. One of themajor challenges is to obtain a drug delivery system able to control the drug release profile, transportabsorption and distribution, in the view of improving efficacy and safety. Herein, we present theoreticalresults based on density functional theory (DFT) to determine the best adsorption site for the anticancerifosfamide molecule in boron nitride nanotubes. For this functionalized system we determine thedependence of the adsorption energy on the displacement of molecules in the outer and inner boronnitride surfaces, together with their local morphological and…
TRAIL–NP hybrids for cancer therapy: a review
IF 7.367; International audience; Cancer is a worldwide health problem. It is now considered as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. In the last few decades, considerable progress has been made in anti-cancer therapies, allowing the cure of patients suffering from this disease, or at least helping to prolong their lives. Several cancers, such as those of the lung and pancreas, are still devastating in the absence of therapeutic options. In the early 90s, TRAIL (Tumor Necrosis Factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), a cytokine belonging to the TNF superfamily, attracted major interest in oncology owing to its selective anti-tumor properties. Clinical trials u…
Conformation of Polyethylene Glycol inside Confined Space: Simulation and Experimental Approaches
The modification of the inner nanopore wall by polymers is currently used to change the specific properties of the nanosystem. Among them, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) is the most used to prevent the fouling and ensure the wettability. However, its properties depend mainly on the chain structure that is very difficult to estimate inside this confined space. Combining experimental and simulation approaches, we provide an insight to the consequence of the PEG presence inside the nanopore on the nanopore properties. We show, in particular, that the cation type in the electrolyte, together with the type of electrolyte (water or urea), is at the origin of the ion transport modification in the n…
Natural payload delivery of the doxorubicin anticancer drug from boron nitride oxide nanosheets
International audience; We studied the behavior of doxorubicin (DOX; an anticancer drug) molecules loaded on a boron nitride oxide nanosheet (BNO-NS) using the density functional theory (DFT), time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation methods. We found that DOX molecules in pi-pi or covalent interaction with BNO-NS preserve their optical properties in water. Moreover, the BNO-NS vector allowed stabilizing the DOX molecules on a cellular membrane contrary to isolated DOX that randomly moved in the solvent box without any interaction with the cell membrane. From these results, we conclude that hydrophilic BNO-NS represents a good candidate for DOX…
A potential solution to avoid overdose of mixed drugs in the event of Covid-19: Nanomedicine at the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since 2020, the world is facing the first global pandemic of 21st century. Among all the solutions proposed to treat this new strain of coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, the vaccine seems a promising way but the delays are too long to be implemented quickly. In the emergency, a dual therapy has shown its effectiveness but has also provoked a set of debates around the dangerousness of a particular molecule, hydroxychloroquine. In particular, the doses to be delivered, according to the studies, were well beyond the acceptable doses to support the treatment without side effects. We propose here to use all the advantages of nanovectorization to address this question of concentration. Using quantum…
Theoretical study of the interaction between carbon nanotubes and carboplatin anticancer molecules
International audience; Full DFT calculations were carried out to study the interactions between single-wall functionalized carbon-based metallic nanotubes (CNTs) and carboplatin anticancer drugs. The geometry of the CNT-carboplatin was optimized considering different molecular configurations on inner and outer surfaces of the nanotubes. Simulation results show that the most stable physisorption state for molecules is to be located inside the nanotubes in a parallel configuration. Furthermore{,} we demonstrated that the molecular physisorption was reinforced as soon as the number of encapsulated carboplatin molecules increased{,} leading to a favored state where the nanovector is filled by …
Carbon nanotube – Protamine hybrid: Evaluation of DNA cell penetration
International audience; Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent a class of nanomaterials with important potential for biomedical and biotechnological applications. CNT based vectorization is an emerging approach to the transport of nucleic acid through cell membrane but limited by detachment of DNA and degradation process. To increase DNA internalization, it was proved that cationic functionalized CNT was essential. In such a way, protamine efficiently used in several transfection processes is a cationic protein which was never associated to CNT.We propose here a novel nanovector based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) functionalized by protamine. Our results based on qPCR methods clearly…
Nanovector formation by functionalization of TRAIL ligand on single-walled carbon nanotube: Experimental and theoretical evidences
Équipe 104 : Nanomatériaux; International audience; The synthesis and the characterization of a novel nanovector based on oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) functionalized with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) via noncovalent 1-pyrenebutanoic acid N-hydrosuccinimid ester (PSE) is described. Experimental noncovalent functionalized SWCNT by PSE are compared to full DFT theoretical predictions. For this, several experimental techniques are gathered to prove the well functionalization of oxidized SWCNT by pi-pi stacking such as micro Raman and XPS spectroscopy analysis coupled to full-DFT calculations. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) …
Theoretical demonstration of the potentiality of boron nitride nanotubes to encapsulate anticancer molecule.
Anticancer drug transport is now becoming an important scientific challenge since it would allow localizing the drug release near the tumor cell, avoiding secondary medical effects. We present theoretical results, based on density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, which demonstrate the stability of functionalized single (10,10) boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) filled with anticancer molecule such as carboplatin (CPT). For this functionalized system we determine the dependence of the adsorption energy on the molecule displacement near the inner BNNTs surface, together with their local morphological and electrical changes and compare the values to the adsorption energy obta…
Detection of Amyloid-β Fibrils Using Track-Etched Nanopores: Effect of Geometry and Crowding
Several neurodegenerative diseases have been linked to proteins or peptides that are prone to aggregate in different brain regions. Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is recognized as the main cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression, leading to the formation of toxic Aβ oligomers and amyloid fibrils. The molecular mechanism of Aβ aggregation is complex and still not fully understood. Nanopore technology provides a new way to obtain kinetic and morphological aspects of Aβ aggregation at a single-molecule scale without labeling by detecting the electrochemical signal of the peptides when they pass through the hole. Here, we investigate the influence of nanoscale geometry (conical an…