Control of celluar functions by chemically functionalized nanocarbons

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25702030
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Miyako Eijiro 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, ナノ材料研究部門, 主任研究員 (70443231)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: カーボンナノチューブ / 光発熱特性 / 近赤外光 / 細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A single organism comprises diverse types of cells. To acquire a detailed understanding of the biological functions of each cell, a comprehensive control and analysis of homeostatic processes at the single-cell level are required. In this study, we develop a new type of light-driven nanomodulator comprising dye-functionalized carbon nanohorns (CNHs) that generate heat and reactive oxygen species under biologically transparent near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. By exploiting the chemico-physical properties of the nanohorns, cellular calcium ion flux and membrane currents were successfully controlled at the single-cell level. In addition, the nanomodulator allows a remote bioexcitation of tissues during NIR laser exposure making this system a powerful tool for single-cell analyses and innovative cell therapies.

Free Research Field

ナノバイオ工学