(194b) Ex vivo Study of Nanowires in Miniguts

Introduction: Telluride nanowires have many potential applications
owing to their unique electronical, optical, and thermal properties. However,
their use in medical applications is seldom considered due to the unclearness
of their nanotoxicity. In this study, we demonstrated a case study on Bi2Te3
nanowires. Through live/dead cell viability testing and surface area analysis,
we showed that 50 μg/mL Bi2Te3 exerts minimum influence on shrinking
crypts. Figure A is a scheme of the experiment.

Methods: Primary small
intestinal crypts were isolated from mouse small intestine. A 10mm small
intestine was taken out and cut in pieces of 1 mm to 2 mm in length and washed
five times using ice-cold PBS. Crypts were isolated, implanted within Matrigel
on a pre-incubated 24-well plastic plate. Nanowires were added on the seventh
day of growth.

Results: Figure B shows the live/dead cell images, where green
indicates live cells and red indicates dead cells. Upon comparing the merged
images of each concentration with those of the control, 200 μg/mL and 400
μg/mL showed more cells stained red and less cells stained green, which
indicates that most of the cells were unhealthy. 50 μg/mL showed no
significant difference compared with the control, which further indicates nanowires
at 50 μg/mL pose the least harm to organoids and can be used as the
optimal concentration.

Conclusions: We have demonstrated that Bi2Te3 nanowires at 50
μg/mL possess minimal cytotoxicity for organoids. Due to the toxicity of
nanowires, concentration intake is limited. Because of their small size,
nanowires can be constructed into any desired shape. They could be engineered
into a microvillus-like shape for nutrition supply. Certain types of nanowires with
unique thermoelectric properties could be incorporated into organoids and
provide electrical/thermo potential, which can be utilized to manipulate the
functionality of organoids. 

Figure: