Figure 4.

In vitro experiment demonstrating antitumor targeted effects of carbon nanotubes functionalized with EGF and cisplatin. (A–C) Confocal microscopy showing the cellular internalization of SWNT-Qdot525-EGF (SQE) nanoconjugates; the green fluorescence of Qdot525 indicates the intracellular localization of the bioconjugate (the nuclei are red). (D–F) 3D reconstructions that confirm the localization of quantum dots that are green. (G) Shows how higher levels of EGFR expression determine a higher cellular uptake of the bioconjugate. Treatment with siRNA was used for blocking EGFR. Differences between control/SQE and the other samples were significant, p<0.05. (***). (H) and (I) Transmission electron microscopy images that show cells exposed only to SWNT-Qdot without EGF; (H) – there is no trace of nanoparticles being internalized and cells exposed to SQE (I) – the arrows indicate the presence of nanoparticles in the perinuclear region. Reprinted with permission from Bhirde AA, Patel V, Gavard J, et al Targeted killing of cancer cells in vivo and in vitro with EGF-directed carbon nanotube-based drug delivery. ACS nano. 2009;3(2):307–316. Copyright (2009) American Chemical Society.⁶³