Chemically Functionalized Water-Soluble Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modulate Morpho-Functional Characteristics of Astrocytes

摘要

We report the use of chemically functionalized water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (ws-SWCNTs) for the modulation of morpho-functional characteristics of astrocytes. When added to the culturing medium, ws-SWCNTs were able to make astrocytes larger and stellate/mature, changes associated with the Increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. Thus, ws-SWCNTs could have more beneficial effects at the injury site than previously thought； by affecting astrocytes, they could provide for a more comprehensive re-establishment of the brain computational power.