Redox active Double Wall Carbon Nanotubes show intrinsic anti-proliferative effects and modulate autophagy in cancer cells
Résumé
In Double-Walled-Carbon-Nanotubes (DWCNTs) the outer shell screens the inner one from
the external environment. As a consequence, the electronic properties of the smaller tube
are enhanced and DWCNTs have therefore been advocated for a number of uses. In their
raw form theymay contain small metallic clusters, left over from the catalytic process, that
can give them a redox activity characterized by redox potentials in the range of one
hundred millivolts and able to affect biological systems. Indeed, we find that redox active
raw-DWCNTs inhibit rat colorectal cancer cell proliferation by blocking cells in the G2
phase through ROS generation by tumor cells. We show that raw-DWCNTs could also
modulate autophagy in tumor cells through induction of intracellular acidification. To
the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that DWCNTs have been found to inhibit
proliferation and modulate autophagy in cancer cells. Our work further supports previous
studies that provided promising results on the possibility of future applications of Carbon
Nanotubes (CNTs) in nanomedicine.
Domaines
Matériaux
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)
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