Nanostructures with precise control of sizes and shapes, intrinsic read-out signals for tracking, and flexible surface chemistry for bioconjugation can offer an excellent system to study interaction between nanomaterials and cells. Here, a new nano-bio system based on functionalized silicon nanowires (SiNWs) was developed. Using the intrinsic nonlinear optical signal of SiNWs, we visualized the interaction between the folate and amine group functionalized SiNWs and cells by monitoring the cellular binding and uptake of SiNWs in real time. We demonstrated that the strong specific ligand-receptor interaction between folate on NWs and folate receptors on CHO-� cell membranes expedited agglomeration of folate modified SiNWs on cells and internalization of NWs. Such specific targeting was further confirmed through control experiments done with normal CHO cell without folate receptors. Weaker non-specific charge-charge attraction led to longer time required for amino group modified SiNWs to be bound on cell membrane. No effective accumulation was noticed for unmodified SiNW with native oxidized surface layer. Length effect of NWs on cellular response was also investigated. Our results provided an insight of cellular interaction with 1-dimensional nanomaterials.

Cellular binding and internalization of functionalized silicon nanowires

244th National Meeting (2012)

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