BIOMEDICAL AND BIOMEDICINE APPLICATIONS OF CNTs - Bio-Inspired and Nanoscale Integrated Computing - page 505

From in vitro studies at the cellular level for epidermal and pulmonary cells, it
is difficult to determine proper dosage and infer the in vivo effects since cells are
isolated from physiological interactions. Yet, it is clear that SWCNTs have the
potential to elicit pulmonary damage. The potential risks are gradually becoming
understood and will allow for the development of appropriate precautions.
18.6.2.2. Cell Behavior After Ingesting CNTs. In our experiments, we have
observed that the CNTs interfere and stop cell division in bacteria after ingesting
CNTs [7]. The picture was taken after filtering the bacteria. In the SEM figure
(Fig. 18.1), the bacteria changes its shape due to the CNT now inside of it, leaving
a thin shell supported only by the CNT forming a film inside of it. Since one of the
nutrients of Pseudomonas is iron, the bacteria started to look for the only supply
of food available in its environment, the CNTs, which contain iron particles. Since
the pseudomonas has iron receptors, those absorbed the CNTs in order to extract
the iron from them. In Figure 18.1, it can be observed how the mitosis of the
bacteria is being stopped by the amount of CNT ingested for the bacteria
interfering in the cytokinesis process of the bacterial division. One can observe
how the division was blocked because of CNT. Hence, the implications in the
bio-realm may suggest a way to further stop cell division of unwanted cells.
Furthermore, we will be studying the implications of this particular process for
both drug delivery, as well prevention and shrinking of unwanted tissues.
A closer look at the bacteria shell in Figure 18.2 reveals the amount of CNT
inside the bacteria and the blockage of the cytokinesis process for the CNT.
Figure 18.1. SEM image of pseudomonad after CNT ingestion.