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Primary microglia maintain their capacity to function despite internalisation and intracellular loading with carbon
Cyrill Bussy1, Alberto Bianco, Maurizio Prato
1Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health & National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. cyrill.bussy@manchester.ac.uk kostas.kostarelos@manchester.ac.uk.
Nanoscale Horizons
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Functionalised carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) do not harm microglial cell functions like viability, phagocytosis, or migration. Even after internalization, these f-CNTs did not trigger inflammation in brain immune cells over a month.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Materials Science
- Immunology
Background:
- Functionalised carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) show promise for brain imaging and drug delivery.
- f-CNTs can accumulate in microglial cells, the brain's primary immune cells.
- Understanding f-CNT interaction with microglial cells is crucial due to their immunological role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different f-CNT surface chemistries on primary microglial cell functions.
- To assess changes in microglial cell viability, phagocytosis, migration, and inflammatory response over time after f-CNT exposure.
Main Methods:
- Isolated primary rat microglial cells were cultured.
- Cells were exposed to non-cytotoxic concentrations of carboxylated, aminated, and dual-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
- Cellular functions and pro-inflammatory factor release were monitored for 28 days.
Main Results:
- f-CNTs did not induce inflammation in microglial cells.
- Basic physiological functions (viability, phagocytosis, migration) remained unaffected.
- These findings held true from day 1 to day 28 post-exposure, despite f-CNT internalization.
Conclusions:
- Surface chemistry of f-CNTs did not negatively impact microglial cell functions.
- f-CNTs are not inherently inflammatory to microglial cells under the tested conditions.
- Microglial cells can internalize and retain f-CNTs without compromising their core functions over an extended period.
