Abstract
This paper reports the results of a study that aimed to identify thermotropic liquid crystals that are not toxic to mammalian cells. Mesogenic compounds were mixed to create eight liquid crystalline phases, each with a unique set of functional groups. We investigated the toxicity of each liquid crystalline phase using two mammalian cell lines - 3T3 fibroblast and SV-40 transformed human corneal epithelial (HCEC) cells. Using dual fluorescent staining assays based on calcein acetoxymethylester (Calcein-AM) and ethidium homodimer, we measured correspondingly the number of viable and dead cells following immersion of the cells in the liquid crystals. It was found that most of the liquid crystals, such as commonly used 5CB and E7, caused cell death after contact with cells for four hours. However, we identified a class of liquid crystals containing fluorophenyl groups that possess minimal or no toxicity (as indicated by results of assays based on Calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer) to cells. Following immersion in fluorophenyl liquid crystals for four hours, the cells were observed to proliferate in culture medium at rates similar to control cells exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for four hours. In contrast, treatment of cells for 24 hours with either PBS or liquid crystals (media containing no nutrients and growth factors) resulted in cell death.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 611-621 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Liquid Crystals |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
Cite this
Non-toxic thermotropic liquid crystals for use with mammalian cells. / Luk, Yan Yeung; Campbell, Sean F.; Abbott, Nicholas L.; Murphy, Christopher J.
In: Liquid Crystals, Vol. 31, No. 5, 05.2004, p. 611-621.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-toxic thermotropic liquid crystals for use with mammalian cells
AU - Luk, Yan Yeung
AU - Campbell, Sean F.
AU - Abbott, Nicholas L.
AU - Murphy, Christopher J
PY - 2004/5
Y1 - 2004/5
N2 - This paper reports the results of a study that aimed to identify thermotropic liquid crystals that are not toxic to mammalian cells. Mesogenic compounds were mixed to create eight liquid crystalline phases, each with a unique set of functional groups. We investigated the toxicity of each liquid crystalline phase using two mammalian cell lines - 3T3 fibroblast and SV-40 transformed human corneal epithelial (HCEC) cells. Using dual fluorescent staining assays based on calcein acetoxymethylester (Calcein-AM) and ethidium homodimer, we measured correspondingly the number of viable and dead cells following immersion of the cells in the liquid crystals. It was found that most of the liquid crystals, such as commonly used 5CB and E7, caused cell death after contact with cells for four hours. However, we identified a class of liquid crystals containing fluorophenyl groups that possess minimal or no toxicity (as indicated by results of assays based on Calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer) to cells. Following immersion in fluorophenyl liquid crystals for four hours, the cells were observed to proliferate in culture medium at rates similar to control cells exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for four hours. In contrast, treatment of cells for 24 hours with either PBS or liquid crystals (media containing no nutrients and growth factors) resulted in cell death.
AB - This paper reports the results of a study that aimed to identify thermotropic liquid crystals that are not toxic to mammalian cells. Mesogenic compounds were mixed to create eight liquid crystalline phases, each with a unique set of functional groups. We investigated the toxicity of each liquid crystalline phase using two mammalian cell lines - 3T3 fibroblast and SV-40 transformed human corneal epithelial (HCEC) cells. Using dual fluorescent staining assays based on calcein acetoxymethylester (Calcein-AM) and ethidium homodimer, we measured correspondingly the number of viable and dead cells following immersion of the cells in the liquid crystals. It was found that most of the liquid crystals, such as commonly used 5CB and E7, caused cell death after contact with cells for four hours. However, we identified a class of liquid crystals containing fluorophenyl groups that possess minimal or no toxicity (as indicated by results of assays based on Calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer) to cells. Following immersion in fluorophenyl liquid crystals for four hours, the cells were observed to proliferate in culture medium at rates similar to control cells exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for four hours. In contrast, treatment of cells for 24 hours with either PBS or liquid crystals (media containing no nutrients and growth factors) resulted in cell death.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=2942614870&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02678290410001666020
DO - 10.1080/02678290410001666020
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2942614870
VL - 31
SP - 611
EP - 621
JO - Liquid Crystals
JF - Liquid Crystals
SN - 0267-8292
IS - 5
ER -