Amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes act as a carrier for nerve growth factor

In recent years, there are growing studies concerning the use of different carrier materials for sustained-release and controlled-release of nerve growth factor in neuroscience research.

Tags:
2014-04-22

In a study by Prof. Gao Li and team from Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, amino-functionalized ethylenediamine-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used to prepare carbon nanotubes-nerve growth factor complexes by non-covalent grafting. Results showed that amino functionalization improved carbon nanotubes-nerve growth factor complex dispersibility, reduced their toxicity to PC12 cells, and promoted PC12 cell differentiation and chick embryo dorsal root ganglion.

49368.jpg
Under inverted fluorescence microscope, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes-ethylenediamine-nerve growth factor complexes significantly induce PC12 cell differentiation, and the growing protuberances are long, dense, and woven into meshes (× 200).

Source: Nanotechnology Now

  • 439 reads