Viability Studies of Pure Carbon‐ and Nitrogen‐Doped Nanotubes with Entamoeba histolytica: From Amoebicidal to Biocompatible Structures

In vitro phagocytosis assays with Entamoeba histolytica as a model system are used to define the biocompatibility of undoped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and N-doped (CNx) MWCNTs. The CNx MWCNTs were innocuous to the proliferation of the trophozoites, whereas MWCNTs became lethal. CNx MWCNTs were actively phagocyted by trophozoites with no evidence of cellular damage or distress, in contrast to MWCNTs that induced cellular lysis. The amoebicidal action of pure carbon MWCNTs (see image) could be exploited to develop new tools against amoebiasis.