Multi-walled carbon nanotubes do not impair immune functions of dendritic cells

The influence of carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs) on the immune activities of dendritic cells (DCs), the most important professional antigen presenting cells, is evaluated. In spite of their diameters, c-MWCNTs are generously phagocytosed by DCs without any cytotoxicity. Treatment with c-MWCNTs, with concentrations of up to 100 μg/mL, does not induce phenotypical maturation of DCs. Furthermore, c-MWCNTs do not interfere with normal DC activation induced by stimulus, such as lipopolysaccharide. The results indicate that c-MWCNTs have good biocompatibility with DCs.