Detection of phospholipid-carbon nanotube translocation using fluorescence energy transfer

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and lysophospholipids readily assemble into supramolecular complexes in aqueous solutions. Upon light excitation the fluorescence of rhodamine-labeled lysophospholipids was redshifted and quenched due to the optical absorption of the SWNTs. Utilizing fluorescence energy transfer, the authors detected the translocation and disassembly of SWNT complexes in MCF breast cancer cells. These lipid-coated SWNT complexes enable drugs to be delivered at an effective dose and their subsequent release to be monitored in real time.