RESUMEN
We here present a method to form a noncovalent conjugate of single-walled carbon nanotubes and folic acid aimed to interact with cells over-expressing folate receptors. The bonding was obtained without covalent chemical functionalization using a simple, rapid "one pot" synthesis method. The zeta potential for the single-walled carbon nanotube-folic acid solution was -32.4 mV at pH 7.0 and the result indicates that the folic acid coating inhibited aggregation of the carbon nanotubes. Properties of the single-walled carbon nanotube-folic acid conjugate were analyzed using ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies. While the folic acid fluorescence signature was significantly quenched by the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes, the Raman spectra of the conjugate displayed a decreased distribution of sp3 sites. Both results were attributed to the noncovalent functionalization of the single-walled carbon nanotubes with folic acid. A more detailed investigation of the single-walled carbon nanotube-folic acid conjugates utilizing scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the well-defined folic acid coating on the individual single-walled carbon nanotubes. The single-walled carbon nanotube-folic acid conjugates were incubated with THP-1 cells and the internalization was evaluated by Giemsa staining with light microscopy, and cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT reduction assay. The cytotoxicity studies presented a low toxicity of the conjugates in the THP-1 cells. The low toxicity and the cellular uptake of single-walled carbon nanotube-folic acid by cancer cells suggest their potential use in carbon nanotube-based drug delivery systems and in the diagnosis of cancer or tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis.
RESUMEN
This article describes the preparation of a graphene electrode modified with a new conjugate of peptide nanotubes and folic acid for the selective detection of human cervical cancer cells over-expressing folate receptors. The functionalization of peptide nanotubes with folic acid was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The peptide nanotube-folic acid modified graphene electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The modification of the graphene electrode with peptide nanotube-folic acid led to an increase in the current signal. The human cervical cancer cells were bound to the modified electrode through the folic acid-folate receptor interaction. Cyclic voltammograms in the presence of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) as a redox species demonstrated that the binding of the folate receptor from human cervical cancer cells to the peptide nanotube-folic acid modified electrode lowered the electron transfer resulting in a decrease in the measured current. A detection limit of 250 human cervical cancer cells per mL was obtained. Control experiments confirmed that the peptide nanotube-folic acid electrode specifically recognized folate receptors. The modified electrode described here opens up new possibilities for future applications in early stage diagnoses of diseases where cells over-express folate receptors, such as in cancer or leishmaniasis disease.