Observation of phagocytosis of fullerene nanowhiskers by PMA-treated THP-1 cells

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 cells (macrophage-like cells) were exposed to the C60 fullerene nanowhiskers (C60 NWs) with an average length of about 6.0 μm and an average diameter of about 660 run and observed with an inverted optical phase-contrast microscope for 48 h. The C60 NWs were well and stably dispersed onto the dishes of culture medium during the observation. The number of cells that internalised C60 NWs gradually increased after the exposure to C60 NWs. But no alteration of cellular morphology was observed compared to the control group without exposure to C60 NWs during this period in this pilot study.