Chemically functionalized water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes modulate morpho-functional characteristics of astrocytes.

Gottipati, Manoj K; Kalinina, Irina; Bekyarova, Elena; Haddon, Robert C; Parpura, Vladimir · Nano Lett · 2012

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

We report the use of chemically functionalized water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (ws-SWCNTs) for the modulation of morpho-functional characteristics of astrocytes. When added to the culturing medium, ws-SWCNTs were able to make astrocytes larger and stellate/mature, changes associated with the increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. Thus, ws-SWCNTs could have more beneficial effects at the injury site than previously thought; by affecting astrocytes, they could provide for a more comprehensive re-establishment of the brain computational power.

Medical subject headings