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Bifunctional carbon dots for cell imaging and inhibition of human insulin fibrillation in the whole aggregation process.
- Source :
-
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules . Mar2020, Vol. 147, p453-462. 10p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Due to the favorable stability, water solubility and good biocompatibility, carbon dots have attracted much attention. Herein, a novel nitrogen-doping bifunctional carbon dots (N-BCDs) with ultra-highly quantum yield (QY abs = 70.4%) is prepared through microwave-assisted method. 50 μg/mL of N-BCDs emit intense fluorescence in HeLa and GES-1 cells with negligible cytotoxicity. In addition, effective inhibition of N-BCDs to human insulin (HI) fibrillation is observed even at 10:1 (mass ratio of HI: N-BCDs) by ThT fluorescence, CD assay and TEM. N-BCDs prevent HI from fibrillation with prolonged lag time and reduced fluorescent intensity at equilibrium, regardless of the addition time of N-BCDs (HI: N-BCDs = 1:1, mass ratio), which has been rarely reported before. Furthermore, the morphology of final HI fibrils is shorter and thinner in the presence of N-BCDs. Mechanism studies reveal that the enhanced hydrogen bond between HI monomers and N-BCDs inhibits nucleation during the lag stage (K a : 1.54 × 104 L·mol−1, 298 K), while the accumulation of N-BCDs blocks the growth of profibrils in the elongation stage. To the best of our knowledge, it's the first time to observe the accumulation of N-BCDs around HI profibrils with TEM. Our study provides a new strategy for developing efficient nanoparticle inhibitors for protein fibrillation. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *CELL imaging
*HELA cells
*CARBON
*HYDROGEN bonding
*MOLECULAR biology
*INSULIN
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01418130
- Volume :
- 147
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 142001336
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.267