Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Pulling Membrane Nanotubes from Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
Published on: December 7, 2017
In vitro interaction and biocompatibility of titanate nanotubes with microglial cells
S Sruthi1, A Loiseau2, J Boudon2
1Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram 695 012, Kerala, India; Nanosciences Department, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, UMR 6303, CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 9 av. A. Savary BP 47 870, 21 078 Dijon, France.
Abstract:
Titanate nanotubes (TiONts) are promising agents for biomedical applications. Microglial activation and associated oxidative burst are major challenges in drug delivery applications across the brain. Here, TiONts were designed for drug delivery systems by functionalizing them with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), their interactions and biocompatibility were studied in vitro using murine microglial BV-2 cells. TiONts-APTES exposure resulted in increased ROS production and transient mitochondrial hyperpolarization. However, there was no indication of microglial proliferation in BV-2 cells as suggested by cell cycle analysis and morphology evaluation. The endocytosis as well as passive diffusion mediated TiONts-APTES internalization were proved by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with and without amiloride, an endocytosis inhibiting agent. In addition, the TiONts-APTES exhibited good biocompatibility on microglial BV-2 cells as revealed by the plasma membrane integrity, lysosmal membrane integrity, morphology and viability analysis.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
Predator-Prey Interactions
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs
Van der Waals Interactions
In-vitro Mutagenesis
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...

