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TMP 15 A4
TMP 15 A4
Nanomedicine
News
Experts state safety concerns
regarding carbon nanotubes
have been allayed by chemistry
Research Highlights
Apprehension regarding the safety However, there have been concerns
of carbon nanotubes – due to the regarding the safety profile of nano-
similarity of their structure to tubes. A serious concern surrounded
asbestos – has been allayed through the carcinogenic risk from the expo-
research showing that toxic proper- sure of the fibers in the body was
ties are removed when the length of highlighted in 2008. Several studies
the nanotube is reduced. have been carried out that appear to
demonstrate that when untreated,
long nanotubes are injected into
“What we show for the the ab-dominal cavity of mice, the
first time is that in order responses stimulated are similar to
to design risk-free carbon those associated with exposure to
nanotubes both chemical particular asbestos fibers.
treatment and shortening A new study published in Ange
are needed.” wandte Chemie demonstrates that
long, pristine nanotubes that possess
Carbon nanotubes, first described similar reactivity and pathogenicity
atomically in the 1990s, consist of properties to asbestos had these char-
sheets of carbon atoms that are rolled acteristics completely removed when
into hollow tubes measuring several the nanotube surface was modified
nanometers in diameter. Engineered and the length reduced. This was
carbon nanotubes can be modified achieved through chemical treatment.
chemically through the addition Kostas Kostarelos, Senior Editor
of nucleic acids, chemotherapeutic of Nanomedicine (University College
drugs or fluorescent tags. Carbon London, School of Pharmacy,
nanotubes have possible applica- London, UK), led the research. His
tions in the fields of cancer and gene
therapies.
In addition to these
applications, chemi-
cally modified car-
bon nanotubes are
able to pierce cell
mem-branes. This
property allows
them to behave
like a nanonee-
dle ; giving rise
to the notion that
diagnostic and thera-
peutic agents can be
delivered efficiently into
part of the cytoplasm of cells.
10.2217/NNM.13.29 © 2013 Future Medicine Ltd Nanomedicine (2013) 8(3), 325–328 ISSN 1743-5889 325
News & Views – News
collaborators included Alberto Bianco (Le these materials, even in well-controlled
Centre National de la Recherche Scientific, and strictly regulated applications, such
Strasbourg, France) and Maurizio Prato as biomedical ones. What we show for
(University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy). the first time is that in order to design
The authors demonstrate in their paper, risk-free carbon nanotubes both chemical
two reactions that question if any type treatment and shortening are needed.”
of chemical modification will lead to the
nanotubes becoming nontoxic. The paper – Written by Priti Nagda
concludes that only those reactions that
leave the nanotubes stable in biological Sources: Ali-Boucetta A, Nunes A, Sainz R
fluids without aggregating and shorter in et al. Asbestos-like pathogenicity of long
length will result in risk-free material. carbon nanotubes alleviated by chemical
Kostarelos commented on why the find- functionalization. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
ings had such importance, “The appar- Engl. 52(8), 2274–2278 (2013); University
ent structural similarity between carbon College London News. Chemistry resolves
nanotubes and asbestos fibers has gener- toxic concerns about carbon nanotubes: www.
ated serious concerns about their safety ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/ 0113/130115-
profile and has resulted in many unrea- chemistr y-resolves-toxic- concerns-about-
sonable proposals of a halt in the use of carbon-nanotubes
High-density lipoprotein
nanoparticles for lymphoma
treatment: the future looks golden
A team of researchers from Northwestern According to the team, these HDL
University (IL, USA) have developed a NPs could be active in other diseases of
novel high-density lipoprotein nanoparticle pathologic cholesterol accumulation.
(HDL NP) as a new therapeutic approach Leo Gordon, co-author of the paper and
to treating B-cell lymphoma. Professor of Medicine at Northwestern
The scientists, led by C Shad Thaxton, University, commented on the research,
synthesized the HDL NPs using a gold nano “This has the potential to eventually
particle template, which enabled Thaxton become a nontoxic treatment for B-cell
and his team to control the conjugate size lymphoma that does not involve chemo-
and ensure a spherical shape. Similar to therapy. It’s an exciting preliminary
natural high-density lipoprotein, the syn- finding.”
thesized NP system targeted a high-affintity The team was encouraged by the appar-
“This has the potential high-density lipoprotein receptor expressed ent nontoxicity of the HDL NPs to other
to eventually become a by the lymphoma cells. However, accord- cells normally targeted by natural HDLs.
nontoxic treatment for B-cell ing to the researchers, the gold nanoparticle However, looking to the future Thaxton
lymphoma that does not core in the HDL NP system enabled dif- was cautious, “Like every new drug can-
involve chemotherapy. It’s an ferential manipulation of cellular cholesterol didate, the HDL NP will need to undergo
exciting preliminary finding.” flux in the lymphoma cells. This resulted in further testing.”
the lymphoma cells essentially starving to
death, as cholesterol delivery was limited by – Written by Hannah Stanwix
the HDL NP system. Thaxton described
the reasoning behind the study, “At first I Sources: Yang S, Damiano MG, Zhang H et al.
was heavily focused on developing NPs that Biomimetic, synthetic HDL nanostructures for
could remove cholesterol from cells, espe- lymphoma. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110(7),
cially those involved in heart disease. The 2511–2516 (2013); Northwestern University
lymphoma work has broadened this focus press release. New way to kill lymphoma with-
to how the HDL NPs impact both the out chemotherapy: www.northwestern.edu/
removal and uptake of cholesterol by cells. newscenter/stories/2013/01/new-way-to-kill-
We discovered the particles are multitaskers.” lymphoma-without-chemotherapy.html