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Light-Emitting Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers under Cellular Digestion
Yin-Ting Yeh1, Yi Tang2, Zhong Lin1
1Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|January 10, 2018
Summary
Researchers observed cells digesting tungsten disulfide (WS2) monolayers, a novel finding in 2D materials research. These cells became fluorescent and passed the signal to daughter cells, enabling new bioimaging techniques.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) materials possess diverse electronic properties and broad applications, including in biology.
- Understanding the biointerfacial interactions of 2D materials is crucial for their biomedical applications, but this field is nascent.
- Transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers are a class of 2D materials with potential biological relevance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactions between living organisms and transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers.
- To explore the cellular uptake and biological fate of tungsten disulfide (WS2) monolayers.
- To develop a method for monitoring cellular responses to 2D materials.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of 2D tungsten disulfide (WS2) monolayers.
- Cell culturing techniques to co-culture cells with WS2 monolayers.
- Microscopy and fluorescence imaging to observe cellular interactions and viability.
Main Results:
- First-time observation of cellular digestion of WS2 monolayers.
- Cells internalized WS2 and exhibited fluorescence after digestion.
- Fluorescent cells remained viable and transmitted the fluorescent signal to progeny cells post-division.
Conclusions:
- Cellular digestion and fluorescence of WS2 monolayers represent a novel biological interaction.
- This phenomenon offers new possibilities for cellular labeling and bioimaging.
- Further research into 2D material-organism interactions is warranted.
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