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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Localization and Relative Quantification of Carbon Nanotubes in Cells with Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Localization and Relative Quantification of Carbon Nanotubes in Cells with Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: December 12, 2013

Intercellular nanotubes: insights from imaging studies and beyond.

Johan Hurtig¹, Daniel T Chiu, Björn Onfelt

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology

|February 19, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cells communicate via nanotubes, transferring molecules and organelles. These nanotubes, observed in vivo, may influence normal physiology and disease transmission, including HIV-1.

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Area of Science:

Cell biology
Molecular biology
Immunology

Background:

Multicellular organisms rely on cell-cell communication for development and function.
Classical communication involves molecular secretion and gap junctions.
Emerging evidence points to intercellular nanotubes as a novel communication pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of intercellular nanotubes in cell-cell communication.
To investigate the cargo transferred via nanotubes.
To assess the involvement of nanotubes in disease transmission.

Main Methods:

Microscopy techniques to visualize nanotubes.
Assays to detect transfer of organelles and molecules.
In vitro studies using pathogens like HIV-1.

Main Results:

Intercellular nanotubes facilitate long-distance cell communication.
Nanotubes mediate the transfer of organelles, membrane components, and cytoplasmic molecules.
Nanotubes enhance the transmission of pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and prions.

Conclusions:

Intercellular nanotubes represent a significant mode of cell-cell communication.
Nanotube-mediated transfer plays roles in both normal physiological processes and disease pathogenesis.
Further research into nanotubes is warranted for understanding health and disease.