Are PEI-coated SWCNTs conjugated with hepatitis A virus? A chemical study with SEM, Z-potential, EDXD and RT-PCR

Biomed Mater. 2010 Jun;5(3):35001. doi: 10.1088/1748-6041/5/3/035001. Epub 2010 Apr 19.

Abstract

The conjugation between nanotubes, coated with different doses of polyethylene imine (PEI) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Z-potential, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray diffraction (EDXD) and reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For the first time, to our knowledge, evidence is obtained that conjugation between the nanotubes and the HAV occurs and that it has an (at least a partial) electrostatic character. Since all components of the conjugated systems, nanotubes, coating material and virus are characterized by different peak shapes in the selected q range, it was possible to infer that conjugation occurred. RT-PCR measurements confirmed that the conjugation of the coated nanotubes and HAV occurred and the result was stable. This opens up the prospect of probing the coated nanotubes as intra-cellular carriers in transfection processes of the virus. Further biological applications will concern a possible vaccine especially for non-replicative viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens
  • Chromosome Disorders
  • Hepatitis A virus / chemistry*
  • Hepatitis A virus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis A virus / metabolism
  • Imines
  • Microscopy
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Polyethylene
  • Polyethylenes
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Virus Diseases / diagnosis
  • Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • X-Ray Diffraction*
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Imines
  • Polyethylenes
  • Polyethylene