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Physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity of chitosan-modified single walled carbon nanotubes as drug carriers

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Abstract

The application of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as drug carriers is limited by their poor dispersal in aqueous medium. This study aimed to prepare chitosan (CS)-modified SWCNTs (CS-SWCNTs) and to evaluate their physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity. Oxidized SWCNTs (O-SWCNTs) were prepared with the use of strong acid, and the effects of acidizing conditions on the oxidation degree of the O-SWCNTs were investigated. CS was then non-covalently modified on the surfaces of O-SWCNTs. O-SWCNTs and CS-SWCNTs were characterized through ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The cytotoxic effects of the functionalized SWCNTs were determined through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. O-SWCNTs with relatively complete structure were successfully synthesized through 5 h of treatment with 5 M acid. The amine group of the CS and the carboxyl group of O-SWCNTs interacted in CS-SWCNTs. The functionalized SWCNTs did not aggregate or precipitate in water and exerted no cytotoxic effects on A549 and MCF-7 tumor cells. The CS-SWCNTs possess the advantages of a simple preparation process, excellent water dispersibility, and biocompatibility for drug loading.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81373333, 21373262), and a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development (PAPD) of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-Xue Zhang, Hao-Yan Huang, Li-Qing Chen, Jing-Hao Cui & Qing-Ri Cao

  2. Key Laboratory of Nanodevices and Applications, Suzhou Institute of Nanotech and Nanobionics, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou, 215123, People’s Republic of China

    Hehua Jin

  3. College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Suwon, 443-749, Republic of Korea

    Beom-Jin Lee

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  1. Xiao-Xue Zhang
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  2. Hao-Yan Huang
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  3. Li-Qing Chen
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  4. Hehua Jin
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  5. Beom-Jin Lee
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  6. Jing-Hao Cui
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  7. Qing-Ri Cao
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Correspondence to Qing-Ri Cao.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Zhang, XX., Huang, HY., Chen, LQ. et al. Physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity of chitosan-modified single walled carbon nanotubes as drug carriers. J. Pharm. Investig. 49, 57–65 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40005-018-0384-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40005-018-0384-6

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