Enhanced low voltage cell electropermeabilization by boron nitride nanotubes

Nanotechnology. 2009 Feb 18;20(7):075104. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/7/075104. Epub 2009 Jan 23.

Abstract

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are a structural analogue of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with alternating B and N atoms which entirely substitute for C atoms in a graphitic-like sheet with almost no change in atomic spacing. BNNTs have generated considerable interest within the scientific community by virtue of their unique properties. Very recently, biomedical applications of BNNTs have also been proposed. In the present in vitro study, we demonstrate that BNNTs can be used as nanotools to enable cell electropermeabilization with very low electric fields (40-60 V cm(-1)). An explanation of this behaviour based on the dielectric response of BNNTs to static electric fields is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boron Compounds*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects*
  • Electroporation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Boron Compounds
  • boron nitride