Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) are engineered nanoparticles that are used in a number of bioapplications such as bioimaging, drug delivery and theranostics. The effects of CDs on the immune system have not been evaluated. The effects of CDs on the immune system were assessed by using RAW 264.7 cells and whole blood cell cultures. RAW cells were exposed to CD concentrations under basal conditions. Whole blood cell cultures were exposed to CD concentrations under basal conditions or in the presence of the mitogens, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phytohaemmagglutinin (PHA). After exposure, a number of parameters were assessed, such as cell viability, biomarkers of inflammation, cytokine biomarkers of the acquired immune system and a proteome profile analysis. CDs were cytotoxic to RAW and whole blood cell cultures at 62.5, 250 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Biomarkers associated with inflammation were induced by CD concentrations ≥250 and 500 μg/mL under basal conditions for both RAW and whole blood cell cultures, respectively. The humoral immune cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 was increased at 500 μg/mL CD under both basal and PHA activated whole blood cell culture conditions. Proteome analysis supported the inflammatory data as upregulated proteins identified are associated with inflammation. The upregulated proteins provide potential biomarkers of risk that can be assessed upon CD exposure.
Highlights
In 2004, carbon dots (CDs) were accidentally discovered when they were isolated from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via gel electrophoresis [1]
CNTs were reported to induce allergic airway inflammation, pulmonary inflammation, and inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. This current study aimed to evaluate the effects of CDs on the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 and human whole blood cell cultures (WBCs)
Due to the results seen in WBCs, future studies will investigate the effects of CD on WBC viability at concentrations between 50 and 500 μg/mL
Summary
In 2004, carbon dots (CDs) were accidentally discovered when they were isolated from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via gel electrophoresis [1]. There has been an increase in CD popularity as they possess unique optical properties, biocompatibility, low toxicity, facile synthesis and aqueous stability [1,3,5]. These unique properties have allowed CDs to be used in bioapplications such as bioimaging, drug delivery and theranostic developments [1]. Due to these applications, human exposure is unavoidable. Very few studies have evaluated the potential effects of CDs on cells and the immune system. No studies have reported on the effects of CDs on the immune system
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