Nanotubos de carbono funcionalizados e imobilizados em fibras de soja: avaliação da citotoxicidade, adesão celular e potencial aplicação biomédica

Abstract

The multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) incorporated into the materials of protein origin can contribute to the emergence of interesting composite biomaterials with great potential of biological applications. MWCNT are promising DNA vectors in living cells and embryos. However, the triggering of its use in the biomedical area is related to the standardization of systems and protocols to assess the potential impacts on human health and the environment. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of functionalization, cytotoxicity and cellular adhesion of carbon nanotubes in their commercial form and modified by different processes in macrophages (J774 and RAW). In this research, different functionalization processes were initially performed in the MWCNT, aiming at the insertion of functional groups and possible compatibility with biopolymers. After functionalization, the MWCNT were characterized by different techniques and performed the cytotoxicity and electroanalysis tests. The biopolymers used for the functionalization of the textile substrate of the soy protein were the collagen extracted from the skin of the tilapia and the commercial collagen. The textile substrates were functionalized through the dip coat process and then the carbon nanotubes were incorporated by the same process. The results obtained through the analysis of the functionalization process of the MWCNT revealed that the functionalized samples with chitosan tend to increase the diameter of the tube due to the formation of a polymeric monolayer on its surface and that the best oxidation results were for the samples that passed by the process of acid functionalization and acid functionalization with chitosan. The results obtained by Raman Spectroscopy proved that the functionalization process was successful, allowing the insertion of functional groups on the nanotubes. The electroanalysis in the nanotubes showed that the highest values of capacitance per mass and per area were for the acid functionalized samples and that the addition of chitosan during functionalization increases the resistance to current flow, besides provoking an insulating effect. The cytotoxicity tests of MWCNT performed on macrophages at concentrations of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 5 μg / mL demonstrated a percentage of around 95% cell viability for acid and chitosan functionalized samples at all concentrations. Cell adhesion assays in MWCNTs showed excellent interactions at higher concentrations for all nanotube samples. Visual observation of the effect of modification of the textile substrate with collagen indicated that the type and origin of the protein interfere with the immobilization effect of the carbon nanotubes. In conclusion, macrophage exposures at low concentrations of functionalized MWCNT had no impact on cell viability, which opens the possibilities of several studies to potentiate applications in the biological field.