Titanate nanotubes: towards a novel and safer nanovector for cardiomyocytes*

Abstract

Actively contractile cardiomyocyte (CM) monolayer represents an interesting tool to study both cardiac diseases and injuries. However, this model is poorly transfectable with conventional agents. Consequently, there is a need to develop new carriers that could overcome this problem. Titanate nanotubes (TiONts) could be a potential candidate due to possibly higher cell uptake as a direct consequence of their shape. On the basis of this rationale, TiONts were assessed for their cytotoxicity and internalization pathways. Cytotoxicity was assessed for TiONts either functionalized with PEI or unfunctionalized and its spherical counterpart P25 TiO₂. No cytotoxic effect was observed under TiONts, TiONts-PEI₁₈₀₀ and P25 TiO₂ exposed conditions. The tubular morphology was found to be an important parameter promoting internalization while reversing the charge was assessed as non-additional. Internalization was found to occur by endocytosis and diffusion through the membrane. A preliminary transfection study indicated the potential of TiONts as a nanocarrier.

Keywords::

• Titanate nanotubes
• spherical TiO₂ nanoparticles
• polyethyleneimine
• neonatal rat cardiomyocytes
• internalization
• cytotoxicity
• transfection

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge F. Ménétrier and B. Gasquet (Plateau technique Imagerie Cellulaire IFR Santé STIC) for the biological samples imaging and Dr R. Chassagnon (Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne) for the nanoparticles TEM pictures.