This proposed research will establish a relationship between subcellular reorganization and toxicological effects to incorporation of anisotropic molecules into cells. in light of conflicting evidence of the CNT toxicity, the PIs will undertake careful study of the interaction of well-characterized and purified CNTs with live cells. The CNT-cell interactions will be closely monitored spectroscopically and microscopically from the point of entry into the cell. The results will launch the development of novel nanomaterials for cellular therapies as well as deepen the understanding of cytoskeletal reorganization cellular functions. After analyzing and understanding the effects of CNTs on cell behavior, the investigators will modify the large surface areas of CNTs to design and develop non-destructive targeted cancer therapies.
