Composition and method for monitoring lipid
A method of detecting a condition in a subject comprises the steps of contacting cells of the subject with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), monitoring photoluminescence emitted by SWCNTs internalized into the cells and generating an SWCNT emission profile, comparing the SWCNT emission profile to a control emission profile for the SWCNTs to produce a result, and determining a likelihood of having the condition in the subject based on the result from the comparing step. Also disclosed is a method for screening agents capable of changing endocytic environment using SWCNTs.
1. A method of detecting elevated lysosomal lipid content in in vitro HeLa cells using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), comprising:
contacting the HeLa cells in vitro with SWCNTs, wherein said contacting provides SWCNTs internalized into said cells;
monitoring photoluminescence emitted by SWCNTs internalized into said cells and generating an SWCNT emission profile;
wherein elevated lysosomal lipid content is detected upon a blue-shift in the SWCNT emission profile from a control emission profile; and
wherein the SWCNTs are purified (8,6) SWCNTs encapsulated with ss(GT) 6 oligonucleotides.