Effect of Size, Shape, and Composition on the Interaction of Different Nanomaterials with HeLa Cells

Figure 1

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) interaction with HeLa cells. (a) Diagram of their internalization and endo-lysosomal escape. (b) Low- and high-resolution TEM images of MWCNTs. (c) Phase contrast images of the control and 72 h MWCNT-exposed HeLa cells. (d) Asymmetric triple mitosis representative of the biomechanical defects triggered by MWCNTs in the microtubule cytoskeletal machinery. (e) MWCNTs treatment resulted in a drop in the number of cells at the G1 stage (nondividing cells, represented in light blue) and a rise of cells at S (DNA synthesis), G2 stage (mitotic), polyploidy (P, aberrant genomic load), and apoptosis. Changes in the cell cycle after 72 h incubation with MWCNTs are indicative of cell cycle blockage.