Fabrication of “electroactive cells” using bio-inspired polydopamine-derived carbon nanoparticles for manipulation of cells with electrical stimulation

In this study, we report some bio-inspired carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) that exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields, good conductivity, excellent dispersion in aqueous solution, high cell-uptake efficiency, and no cytotoxicity as well. We were inspired by mussels’ adhesive components to synthesize polydopamine nanoparticles and then use a carbonization process to prepare fluorescent CNPs. Using some surfactants, we could control the sizes of CNPs and increase their dispersion in water. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed the excitation of CNPs at 360 nm and emission of blue light with a 400–450 nm wavelength. High quantum yields of greater than 20% were also measured. Transmission electron microscopy proved that the addition of surfactants could shrink particles to several nanometers in size. The fluorescent and conductive CNPs were applied to stain L929 fibroblast cells in vitro, finding no harmful effects on cells. Due to the polydopamine-derived CNPs’ good electrical, fluorescent, and biocompatible response, we designed a platform to manipulate the cells after endocytosis of conductive CNPs to observe the effects of electrical stimulation on cell attachment, cell growth, and cell death. The nanoparticles endocytosed by cells seemed more easily attracted to the electric field, leading to enhanced cell attachment and growth. Therefore, CNP uptake can increase the attachment of cells onto a conductive plate electrode in a short time (within 10 min at 4°C). When the source of the electric field was changed to rod electrodes in the medium, cells that had been pre-adsorbed onto a non-conductive plate were desorbed from the plate and destroyed. Therefore, addition of CNPs during cell incubation can allow control of cell growth and death via manipulation of electric fields.