Research explores the immune compatibility of 2D nanomaterials in biomedical applications to harness full potential of nanotechnology in medicine
A recent study from a team of researchers led by Khalifa University’s Dr. Lucia Gemma Delogu, Associate Professor, provides fascinating insights into the interaction of nanomaterials with the immune system. The study focused on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), specifically molybdenum disulfide (MOS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2), to shed light on the biocompatibility and immunological effects of the two nanomaterials. The work was the result of multidisciplinary efforts with investigators from Manchester University, the Karolinska Institute, Augusta University, and the University of Padua. The findings were published in Nano Today.
TMDs have garnered significant research interest due to their unique physicochemical properties, including a combination of electrical, mechanical, and optical characteristics, which make them suitable for applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bioimaging. Understanding their interactions with the immune system is crucial for assessing their safety and efficacy in biomedical applications.
“Immune cell interactions are pivotal in driving future TMD applications,” Dr. Delogu says. “They have demonstrated promising applications in photothermal therapy, for example, as they interact with immune cells in tumors. In lab settings, they can directly trigger host immunity by activating specific cells and even reduce the spread of cancer. However, we need to understand the complex interactions between TMDs and human cells to advance their use in biomedicine.”
The research team investigated the impact of MOS2 and WS2 on 16 immune cell types using innovative analytical techniques for the label-free detection of TMDs within immune cells and tissues. Traditional approaches often require individual bioassay molecules to be labeled for detection using another molecule: Identify that molecule in a cell and it can be assumed that the target molecule was also identified. However, some of these labeling molecules can alter the biological function of the nanomaterials and skew experimental results.
“We used single-cell mass cytometry by time-of-flight, or CyTOF, which can detect metal element-tagged antibodies based on their mass/charge ratio.” Dr. Delogu explained.
By transforming the classical approaches, using CyTOF allowed the team to confirm the physical presence of TMDs in biological systems and to develop a detailed understanding of their distribution and interaction with various immune cell types. These insights are invaluable for designing nanomaterials that can effectively target specific cells or tissues without eliciting unwanted immune reactions.
“A critical aspect of expanding the biomedical applications of nanomaterials is their detection in cells and tissues,” Dr. Delogu says. “Having established their biocompatibility, we needed to find out whether detection technologies could be applied to TMDs in in vivo studies. We injected mice with a mixture of the TMDs and both materials were easily detectable at the tissue level in all the cell populations we studied.”
The research team’s findings pave the way for further exploration of TMDs in biomedicine, including their potential as drug delivery systems, imaging agents, or components of tissue engineering structures. Their proven biocompatibility and the ability to monitor their interactions with the immune system could lead to safer and more effective biomedical applications.
“Novel nanotechnology solutions in biology and medicine are strongly required and can lead to new exciting scenarios,” Dr. Delogu says.
Jade Sterling
Science Writer
27 May 2024
