Biomechanics and Interrelations of Microtubules and Intracellular Trafficking: A Guide for Characterizing Carbon Nanotubes Cytotoxicity

碳纳米管（CNTs）是由碳原子组成的管状圆柱体，具有优异的机械、电学、热学、光学和化学性能。它们的多功能性使其能够在广泛的行业中使用，包括场发射，能量存储，超强织物，涂层和薄膜以及具有成本效益的空气和水过滤。随着这些纳米材料应用的增加，生物和环境对CNT的暴露也增加。然而，我们对CNT如何影响细胞过程并对生物体构成生物风险知之甚少。* 微管参与细胞中的许多过程，包括细胞生长，分裂和程序性细胞死亡。它们是细胞“骨架”的主要组成部分之一。CNT与微管具有主要的结构相似性。由于这些相似性，微管及其相关蛋白可能易于与细胞吸收的CNT相互作用，这有可能破坏其天然功能。我们的研究将着眼于微管及其相关的蛋白质，其功能取决于与微管的结合，以了解更多关于这些亚细胞系统的未知特征。我们还将探讨碳纳米管如何干扰这些生物系统的具体机制，并找到与碳纳米管化学结构的关系。有了这些信息，我们将能够在结构上或化学上修改CNT，以降低它们干扰基本细胞过程的风险。我们可以将这些知识应用于设计对生物体和生态系统更安全的CNT基纳米材料。该研究计划将为汇集来自生物化学，细胞生物学，生物材料工程，毒理学和计算科学的国家和国际研究人员创造一个伟大的平台，为新一代年轻科学家提供丰富的培训环境和机会，他们将在这个跨学科研究计划中担任本科生或研究生。他们将发展先进和专业的技能，使他们能够在工业或学术界这个令人兴奋的新兴领域工作。

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tubular cylinders of carbon atoms that have remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical and chemical properties. Their versatility allows using them in a wide range of industries including field emission, energy storage, super-strong fabrics, coating and filming, and cost-effective air and water filtration. With the increase in application of these nanomaterials, biological and environmental exposures to CNTs are also increased. However, we know very little about how CNTs can affect cellular processes and pose biological risks to living organisms. ******Microtubules are involved in many processes in a cell, including cell growth, division, and programmed cell death. They are one of the main components of the cell “skeleton”. CNTs have major structural similarities to microtubules. Due to these similarities, microtubules and their associated proteins may be prone to interacting with CNTs that are taken up by cells, and this has the potential to disrupt their natural function. Our research will look at microtubules and some of their associated proteins whose function depends on binding to microtubules, to learn more about yet unknown features of these subcellular systems. We will also explore the specific mechanism of how CNTs can disturb these biological systems and find the relationship to the chemical structure of CNTs. With this information, we will be able to modify CNTs, either structurally or chemically, to reduce the risk of them interfering with essential cellular processes. We can apply this knowledge in the design of CNT-based nanomaterials that are safer for living organisms and ecosystems.******This research program will create a great platform for bringing together national and international researchers from biochemistry, cell biology, biomaterial engineering, toxicology and computing science providing a rich training environment and opportunities for a new generation of young scientists who will work as undergraduate or graduate students in this interdisciplinary research program. They will develop advanced and specialized skills that will prepare them well to work in this exciting emerging field in industry or academia.