Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Sensing of Barrier Tissue Disruption with an Organic Electrochemical Transistor
Published on: February 10, 2014
Acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes alter epithelial tight junctions and enhance paracellular
Anand P Singh1, Md Babu Mia, Rajiv K Saxena
1Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, Akbar Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India.
Abstract:
Due to their unique properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being widely explored for industrial and medical applications. This has necessitated a thorough assessment of the effect of CNTs on human and animal physiology and health. Impact of CNTs on epithelial tight junctions has not been evaluated in the context of their toxic effects in many biological systems. In the present study, we examined the effect of acid functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (AF-SWCNTs) on the function and expression of two tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) in the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line. Treatment of MDCK cells with AF-SWCNT resulted in a downregulation of tight junction proteins, decreased trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TER), increased paracellular permeability, and disruption of tight junctions. Taken together, our data demonstrate that AF-SWCNT disrupts tight junction barrier by downregulating tight junction proteins in MDCK epithelial cells.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Tight Junctions
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions
Occluding or Tight...

