Tunable carbon nanotube/protein core-shell nanoparticles with NIR- and enzymatic-responsive cytotoxicity.

Li, Chaoxu; Bolisetty, Sreenath; Chaitanya, Krishna; Adamcik, Jozef; Mezzenga, Raffaele · Adv Mater · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A unique procedure is developed to capture carbon nanotubes into closed virus-like protein cages with a controllable shell. The cross-linked shell varies in thickness within ≈10(0) -10(2) nm, and can be entirely removed by enzyme degradation. The cytotoxicity is entirely suppressed, but can be promoted again by enzymes and near-infrared light. These hybrids can be decorated with functional inorganic nanoparticles or processed into nanocomposites.

Medical subject headings