Biosensors in People - Nanotechnology and Carbon Nanotubes
Used for 'Virus' Detection and Drug Delivery
Nanotechnology and Carbon Nanotubes used for Virus Detection
Nanotechnology has played a vital role during the pandemic. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are in the development as biosensors to detect SARS-CoV-2. [1]
Carbon nanotube (CNTs) based sensors have been developed, and are said to be highly efficient and rapid diagnostic tools for ‘SARS-CoV-2 infection’.
Carbon Nanotube (CNTs) are available in two forms: one atom thickness single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), or multi-layers of graphite forming multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).
They are thermally stable, naturally fluoresce when exposed to laser light, and possess electronic properties which have been exploited in the development of efficient sensors. Also known as Spectrofluorometers. [2]
CNTs are carbon-based nanomaterials possess many unique properties. They are hollow, nanometre-thick cylinders, which are incredibly stiff and durable due to carbon-carbon bonds.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 without Antibodies
Researchers from MIT have recently designed a novel sensor based on carbon nanotube sensor technology said to be capable of rapidly detecting SARS-CoV-2 without requiring any antibodies or reagents.
Said to be created to avoid many the time-consuming steps, such as the production of antibodies and purification.
Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, stated that rapid diagnosis could relax travel restrictions as people could be screened before boarding an air plane, and this could aid in preventing further spread of the ‘virus’.
Previously, researchers working at Strano’s laboratory claimed that sensors can be developed by wrapping CNTs in different polymers that respond to specific target molecules (biomarkers) by chemically recognising them.
A new COVID-19 sensor, also known as Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe), is based on this approach.
CoPhMoRe contains amphiphilic polymers, where hydrophobic regions are present on the tubes like anchors, and hydrophilic regions form a series of loops extending away from the tubes.
The loop arrangement plays an important role, as only a specific type of target molecules can wedge into the spaces between the loops. This binding alters the intensity of the wavelength of fluorescence produced by the carbon nanotube. Early this year, Strano’s laboratory and InnoTech Precision Medicine (a Boston-based diagnostics tool company) received the National Institutes of Health grant to develop a CoPhMoRe biosensor to detect SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
Importantly, this sensor can detect both the nucleocapsid and the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2. As stated above, this device is highly accurate and sensitive; it can detect 2.4 picograms of viral protein per millilitre of a sample within five minutes. Interestingly, this device can identify nucleocapsid protein in saliva samples.
The spike protein cannot be detected from the saliva sample because saliva contains carbohydrates and enzymes that interfere with protein detection - this is why most ‘COVID-19’ diagnostics require ‘nasal swabs’.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 with Antibodies
Previous studies have shown that CNT network field-effect transistor (FET) electronic biosensors can effectively detect metal ions, biomolecules (hormones), viruses, and whole cells. Recently, scientists have developed a new electrochemical biosensor based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET) to detect the ‘COVID-19 virus’.
CNT-FET enables digital detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigens in saliva samples. As per the development of this biosensor, SWCNTs with the immobilisation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 antibody are deposited on the surface of SiO2 between the S-D (source-drain) channels using a linker 1-pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidylester (PBASE) via non-covalent interaction.
Researchers utilised RNA hybridisation as the initial signal generator, and the liquid gated CNT network FET was used as the signal transducer. To develop this biosensor, researchers have used commercially available SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen to analyse the electrical output of the CNT-FET biosensor.
This technology can efficiently distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses that contain SARS-CoV-1 S1 or MERS-CoV S1 antigen. Additionally, it has proved to be highly sensitive and can rapidly detect ‘COVID-19 infection’ using saliva samples.
Video on growing Carbon Nanotubes https://www.abc.net.au/education/growing-carbon-nanotubes/13745786
CNT-based biosensors, both with or without antibodies, have shown high efficiency with respect to accurate and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. A rapid detection system would help separate infected and non-infected individuals and prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 infection.
Early diagnosis would promote SARS-CoV-2 treatment without delay. These diagnostic approaches are accurate, cheap, and a reliable alternative for existing diagnostic techniques.[3]
Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Composites for Biomedical Applications
At present, CNTs are used as carriers for drug delivery and gene therapy, and CNTs have been shown effective to reinforce scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. [4]-[9]
Webster et al. fabricated polyurethane/CNTs composite, and the composite material possessed better electrical conductivity and mechanical properties.[10]-[11]
At present, carbon nanotubes have been extensively studied for use in biomedical applications, and biomaterials using CNTs are expected to be developed for clinical use.[12]-[17]
There are controversies on CNTs cytotoxicity, and CNTs might have adverse effects, which is ascribed to their physicochemical properties that affect concentration.
The toxicity of CNTs on the respiratory system is investigated. Lam et al. studied toxicity of CNTs by bronchial injection test, and the results of studies showed that 0.5 mg of CNTs can cause the death of part of mice, another part of the lungs in mice is characterized by damage granuloma.[18]-[19]
CNTs-based composites under different synthetic conditions. Those composites with adjustable mechanical properties could be used for different usages, such as tissue engineering, delivery of genes and drugs, scaffold, implant, or as filler in other composites to improve their mechanical properties.[20]
Recent live blood analysis should this technology already in people, all unvaccinated.
DISCLAIMER: All information herein cannot be considered misinformation or hate speech. Since all information in this article comes directly from respected and verified scientific literature. To consider this article misinformation or hate speech would directly accuse the respected and verified scientific literature and their organisations of the same, thus ruining the creditability of such organisations.
References
[1] https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5892
[2] A full list of available Spectrofluorometers are listed here. - https://www.azonano.com/nanotechnology-equipment.aspx?cat=17
[3] https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=5892
[4] T. Akasaka, F. Watari, Y. Sato, and K. Tohji, “Apatite formation on carbon nanotubes,” Materials Science and Engineering C, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 675–678, 2006.
[5] Sato, A. Yokoyama, K.-I. Shibata et al., “Influence of length on cytotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes against human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 in vitro and subcutaneous tissue of rats in vivo,” Molecular BioSystems, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 176–182, 2005.
[6] Yokoyama, Y. Sato, Y. Nodasaka et al., “Biological behavior of hat-stacked carbon nanofibers in the subcutaneous tissue in rats,” Nano Letters, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 157–161, 2005.
[7] A. Bianco, K. Kostarelos, and M. Prato, “Applications of carbon nanotubes in drug delivery,” Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 674–679, 2005.
[8] D. Cui, C. S. Ozkan, S. Ravindran, Y. Kong, and H. Gao, “Encapsulation of pt-labelled DNA molecules inside carbon nanotubes,” Mechanics & Chemistry of Biosystems, vol. 1, no. 2,pp. 113–121, 2004.
[9] S. Harrison and A. Atala, “Carbon nanotube applications for tissue engineering,” Biomaterials, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 344–353, 2007.
[10] J. Webster, M. C. Waid, J. L. McKenzie, R. L. Price, and J. U. Ejiofor, “Nano-biotechnology: carbon nanofibres as improved neural and orthopaedic implants,” Nanotechnology, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 48–54, 2004.
[11] R. L. Price, K. M. Haberstroh, and T. J. Webster, “Improved osteoblast viability in the presence of smaller nanometre dimensioned carbon fibres,” Nanotechnology, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 892– 900, 2004.
[12] X. Li, Y. Fan, and F. Watari, “Current investigations into carbon nanotubes for biomedical application,” Biomedical Materials, vol. 5, no. 2, Article ID 022001, 2010.
[13] Y. Usui, K. Aoki, N. Narita et al., “Carbon nanotubes with high bone-tissue compatibility and bone-formation acceleration effects,” Small, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 240–246, 2008.
[14] N. Aoki, A. Yokoyama, Y. Nodasaka et al., “Strikingly extended morphology of cells grown on carbon nanotubes,” Chemistry Letters, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 508–509, 2006.
[15] X. Li, H. Liu, X. Niu et al., “The use of carbon nanotubes to induce osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived MSCs in vitro and ectopic bone formation in vivo,” Biomaterials, vol. 33, no. 19, pp. 4818–4827, 2012.
[16] Im, S.-B. Lee, K.-M. Kim, and Y.-K. Lee, “Improvement of bonding strength to titanium surface by sol-gel derived hybrid coating of hydroxyapatite and titania by sol-gel process,” Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 202, no. 4–7, pp. 1135–1138, 2007.
[17] Webster, C. Ergun, R. H. Doremus, R. W. Siegel, and R. Bizios, “Specific proteins mediate enhanced osteoblast adhesion on nanophase ceramics,” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 475–483, 2000.
[18] A. A. Bhirde, S. Patel, A. A. Sousa et al., “Distribution and clearance of PEG-single-walled carbon nanotube cancer drug delivery vehicles in mice,” Nanomedicine, vol. 5, no. 10, pp. 1535–1546, 2010.
[19] C.-W. Lam, J. T. James, R. McCluskey, and R. L. Hunter, “Pulmonary toxicity of single-wall carbon nanotubes in mice 7 and 90 days after intractracheal instillation,” Toxicological Sciences, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 126–134, 2004.
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