Influence of functionalised multiwalled carbon nanotubes with imidazole derivative and thiosemicarbazide on MKN45 and SW742 cancer cells

Abstract

Carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) were first modified by an imidazole derivative, 2-amino-1-methyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)-1H-imidazol-4(5H)-one, to form a MWCNT-Im and then by thiosemicarbazide to produce MWCNT-Py. All products were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, solubility test, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetric and cellular investigations. These functionalisations have been chosen due to active sites of C = C and carbonyl groups in MWCNT-Im and NH₂ and sulphur groups in MWCNT-Py, which might be used as functional materials in future. Toxicity of these samples was evaluated with human gastric (MKN45) and colon (SW742) cancer cells, and the killed cell numbers were measured by reduction in living cells with 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) after 48 h of cell culture experiments. Cellular investigations showed high toxicity of modified MWCNTs on the gastric cancer cells compared to colon cells. In addition, MWCNT-Py sample indicated the highest toxicity for both cancer cells compared to other samples.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• Functionalisation
• Imidazole derivative
• Cancer cells
• Toxicity
• MTT

Acknowledgement

The financial and encouragement support was provided by Research vice Presidency of Ayatollah Amoli branch, Islamic Azad University.