# Comprehensive Study of Ni Nanotubes for Bioapplications: From Synthesis to Payloads Attaching

Authors: A. L. Kozlovskiy; I. V. Korolkov; G. Kalkabay; M. A. Ibragimova; A. D. Ibrayeva; M. V. Zdorovets; V. S. Mikulich; D. V. Yakimchuk; A. E. Shumskaya; E. Yu. Kaniukov
Journal: Journal of Nanomaterials
 (2017)

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## Abstract

Due to the Ni nanotubes’ shape anisotropy, low specific density, large specific surface, and uniform magnetic field, they have been offered as carriers for targeted delivery of drug or protein and the process of their formation from synthesis stage to the stage of surface modification and protein attaching has been demonstrated. Some steps to hasten their biomedical application have been applied. First, to have full control over the carrier dimensions and structure parameters, electrodeposition method in pores of polyethylene terephthalate template has been applied. Second, to understand the scope of Ni nanostructures application, their degradation in media with different acidity has been studied. Third, to improve the biocompatibility and to make payloads attachment possible, nanotubes surface modification with organosilicon compound has been carried out. At last, the scheme of protein attaching to the nanostructure surface has been developed and the binding process was demonstrated as an example of the bovine serum albumin.


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## Body

## 1. Background

Biomedicine needs special chemical and physical techniques to rethink the approaches of treatment on the molecular and cellular scale. From this point of view magnetic nanostructures (NSs) are promising as a tool for prevention, diagnostics, and treatment of a wide range of diseases [1]. Control of shape, sizes, and chemical composition of NSs allows setting their physical properties at synthesis stage that opens a lot of opportunities for bioapplications, such as hyperthermia, cell separation [2], and biosensorics, as contrast substance in magnetic and sonoluminescence tomography [3, 4]. The targeted delivery of payloads (drugs or proteins) by magnetic field is one of the quite interesting possibilities of NSs application. Drug or protein is associated with the magnetic NSs by functional groups, injected to circulatory system, and transported towards the problem area by magnetic field. Perspectives of this method have been shown in modeling studies [5, 6] and tests on animals [7, 8], but results of clinical tests have not been reported yet. It indicates that some difficulties are in the targeted delivery. One of them is selecting a carrier of the drug and protein delivery, which should have controllable magnetic properties and a low toxicity. The solution to this problem could be achieved by choosing the NSs shape and the suitable material.In most cases, spherical magnetic nanoparticles are considered as carriers of drugs and proteins [9, 10]. However, the small magnetic moment of these particles makes it difficult to focus magnetic field on them. This problem does not allow making a sufficient force for the blood flow resistance. Nanowires and nanotubes (NTs) allow overcoming typical limitations for nanoparticles due to their elongated form and anisotropy of magnetic properties [11–19]. In comparison with nanowires, NTs have some potential advantages. The absence of magnetic core makes it possible to create nanostructures with uniform magnetic field [15]. A lower density enables them to float in liquids (including the biological ones). The large specific surface area of NTs provides more functional groups to attach more cargo for the targeted delivery.Considering the simplicity of physical properties modeling and the predictability of the behavior in biological media, preference is given to carriers designed on the base of pure magnetic materials (Fe, Co, and Ni), each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. The Fe NSs are often considered as the most attractive ones but could be easy oxidized in human liquids. Pure Co is more resistive but has a huge coercivity that leads to NSs conglomeration during their using in magnetic field. Ni NSs are also resistant to oxidation and have low coercivity that makes them the most attractive for the carrier creation. It should be noted that some nickel oxides are toxic and harmful to organic cells [20]. The problem of NSs oxidation could be solved by creation of inert shell (protective layer) on their surface. There are some requirements for protective layer such as absence of bioactivity, resistance to biodegradation, and stability, and it should have special functional groups to make links with payloads. These requirements satisfy organic (polymers) [21], inorganic (silane) [22], and gold coatings [23].Considering that NTs based on ferromagnetic metals as carriers for targeted delivery have not been studied earlier, in our work a comprehensive investigation, from their synthesis process up to binding payloads, was carried out. The proposed method of NTs electrodeposition in PET template is simple and scalable, and it allows controlling the formed NSs parameters (length, diameter, and wall thickness) [24]. Ni has been selected as a NSs material, because it is a natural material and an essential nutrient [25]. Taking into account the toxicity of nickel oxides [20], Ni NTs degradation has been researched depending on the ambient medium acidity at different exposure times, and the opportunity of surface modification with organosilicon compound has been considered. Moreover, the scheme of protein attaching to the NSs surface was shown and bovine serum albumin binding was demonstrated as an example of payload.


## 2. Methods

Track-etched membranes based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were used as templates with a thickness of 12 microns, nominal pore diameter of 400 nm, and a density of4×107 cm−2. Electrochemical deposition was carried out at voltage of 1.75 V using the electrolyte: NiSO4  ×  6H2O (100 g/l), H3BO3 (45 g/l), and ascorbic acid (1.5 g/l) at temperature 25°C; pH of electrolyte was equal to 3.Characterization of structural features was conducted by scanning electron microscopy method (SEM, Hitachi TM3030), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS, Bruker XFlash MIN SVE), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD, Bruker D8 ADVANCE) using CuKα radiation and selected area electron diffraction (SAED, JEOL JEM-100). Control of internal diameters and estimation of wall thicknesses was conducted by methods of gas permeability (Sartocheck® 3 Plus 16290) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM, JEOL JEM-100). Magnetic characteristics of Ni NTs were studied on universal measuring system (automated vibrating magnetometer) “Liquid Helium Free High Field Measurement System” (Cryogenic LTD) in magnetic fields ±3 T at 300 K temperature.To study Ni NTs reactivity in solutions with different pH value three aqueous solutions ranging from рH = 1 (strongly acidic) to 7 (neutral) were selected. Regulation of the solution acidity was carried out by adding a hydrochloric acid. NTs were kept in the solution with different рH over the time up to 20 days.The amine functionalization of NTs surface was carried by adding 1 ml of Ni NTs (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane with concentration of 2 and 20 mM in ethanol. The reaction mixture was placed in an ultrasound bath for 1-2 minutes and then NTs were kept in these solutions for 12 hours at room temperature. After the amine functionalization of Ni NTs, samples were washed in ethanol and dried at air.The binding of the dye to the amino groups on the surface of the Ni NTs was carried out in 500 mM/l of Acid Orange dye solution (in HCl solution with рH = 3) for 12 hours. Samples were removed from solution after binding, twice washed with HCl solution (pH = 3), and dried. Desorption of each sample was performed in 3 ml of NaOH solution (pH = 12) for 15 minutes on the shaker. The concentration of amino groups was determined from spectrophotometric measurements by the UV Specord 250 Plus Analytik Jena using the calibration graph. The measurement was carried out at the absorption maximum of Acid Orange dye, 495 nm.To bind protein (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) with the aminated surface, the NT powder was added to 500 microliters of acetate buffer (pH = 4,7–4,8) and then to 100μl of 0.1 M alcoholic solution of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), 200 μl of 0.1 M solution of pentafluorophenol (PFP), and 100 μl of BSA solution (0.1 mg/ml). The reaction flask was placed in the ultrasound bath for 1-2 minutes for better mixing NTs and further reacting for 8 hours at 24°C. After reaction completion, samples were washed with ethanol and dried at 40–50°C.


## 3. Results and Discussion

The nickel NTs were synthesized in pores of PET ion-track membranes by electrodeposition method. At deposition process, the cathode was a 10 nm thick gold film sputtered on back surface (not interacting with the electrolyte) of PET template. The thickness of the gold film kept open pores, and the NTs growth began at contact sites of gold with the electrolyte, as schematically shown in Figure1(a). During sputtering process golden particles got inside pores and formed a golden ring around the pore. Going beyond the pore edge the electrode defined the shape of formed nanostructures at the initial synthesis stages.Figure 1
Schematic illustration of PET template with Au electrode for electrochemical formation of Ni NTs (a). Electrochemical deposition of Ni in pores of PET: chronoamperogram of deposition of Ni nanostructures from NiSO4  ×  6H2O (100 g/l), H3BO3 (45 g/l), and ascorbic acid (1.5 g/l) electrolyte at potential 1.75 V (b) and schematic illustration of morphological dynamics of metallic phase at the key stages of synthesis.Figure1(b) shows the characteristic time dependence values of the deposition current (I) on time. In the beginning of the process I reaches maximum value, after which it sharply drops and reaches a plateau. ConstantI value has been saved until 250 seconds, after which the deposition current growth occurs. ThisI behavior can be explained by the fact that the process of electroplating metals into mask matrix pores involves the following four stages [26–31]: (I) the nucleation stage; (II) the stage of the intensive NTs growth; (III) the stage of the “caps” formation on the upper NTs part; (IV) the stage of the continuous metallic film formation on the mask surface (Figure 1(c)). SEM images corresponding to the (I)–(III) deposition stages are shown in Figure 2.Figure 2
SEM images of Ni NTs formation at the first (a) with insert of individual tube, the second (b), and the third (c) stages.
(a)
(b)
(c)It can be seen that the NTs formation occurs only at the two first stages of the electrodeposition process, which are shown in Figure1(b). The first stage corresponds to the onset of the template pore filling. When the voltage is supplied, metal nuclei appear on the ring electrode in the bottom pore part, which replicates the electrode shape, forms a ring around golden cathode, and sets the tubular NSs shape (Figure 2(a)). Nuclei appear simultaneously in active zones on the surfaces of the pore walls, which contain defects, dangling bonds, and so on; these active zones are the result of chemical or physical activation, for example, in the course of pore formation in the ion-track-etched membranes and UV sensibilization [32]. The intensive nuclei formation reduces the concentration of metal ions inside the pore and, therefore, leads to a substantial decrease of the deposition current (see Figure 1(b)).At the second stage,I gradually decreases or remains nearly constant (Figure 1(b)), which corresponds to the NTs growth directly inside the pores (Figure 2(b)). This process has occurred until the NTs reach the template surface and “caps” form on the upper NTs part (Figure 2(c)). Since the ion diffusion into the pore occurs quite slowly, the NTs grow at the expense of the successive overlaying of two-dimensional nuclei onto the ring part surface [33]. The deposition of two-dimensional layers leads to the formation of the crystal NTs structure. It should be noted that the influence of electrodeposition parameters on structural and morphological features of Ni NTs in detail is discussed in our work [24].Analysis of SEM (Figure2) and TEM images (Figure 3(a)) indicates that the formed NSs have a hollow shape and allow determining external diameters of Ni NTs equal to 400 nm over the entire length with deviations within 5–7% of the average values. The wall thickness could be estimated by TEM images (~120 nm), but its resolution is not suitable for calibrating. That is why internal diameters of 180 nm were established by gas permeability method that corresponds to the wall thickness of 110 nm. EDS spectra analysis has shown that NTs structure consists of pure nickel.Figure 3
TEM image with SAED (inset to figure) (a) and XRD of Ni NTs (b).
(a)
(b)The crystal structure of Ni NTs was studied on the basis of the SAED analysis for individual NTs (insert in Figure3(a)) and the X-ray diffraction spectra of NTs arrays into PET template (Figure 3(b)). NTs have preferred direction of the growth (111), which is also confirmed by the large ratio of the peaks (111) and (200) on the X-ray diffraction spectra. The XRD pattern recorded at diffraction angles 2θ < 35° and 2θ = 53° contains the peaks typical of PET film [34]. The XRD pattern contains the broadened peaks typical of diffraction on nanosized objects. The SAED analysis indicates a polycrystalline NTs structure. Studies of the X-ray spectra show that NTs have a face centered cubic (FCC) structure. The lattice parameter amounts a=3.5223±0.0007 Å and an average crystallite size is 25.3±1.1 nm.The degree of crystallite texturing that made up the NTs was determined by studying texture coefficientsTC(hkl), which were calculated using the Harris formula [35]. Calculations showed thatTC(hkl) at 2θ = 44.559° is equal to 1.5741, and at 2θ = 51.930°TC(hkl)= 0.6741. The values obtained for texture coefficients values indicate the presence of dominant direction [111] in the Ni NTs structure.Measurements of the magnetization dependence on the magnetic fieldM(H) were studied for parallel and perpendicular field directions with respect to orientation of the NTs axis (Figure 4). Based on hysteresis loops the main magnetic characteristics (Hc: coercivity, Mr: remanent magnetization, Ms: magnetization of saturation, and Mr/Ms: squareness ratio of hysteresis loop) were determined.Figure 4
Hysteresis loop of Ni NTs arrays in PET template measured in magnetic field parallel (black solid line) and perpendicular (red dotted line) to the NTs axis at 300 K.The study of Ni NTs arrays magnetization shows that stroke of hysteresis loop is similar to behavior of nanowires in magnetic field [36]. It should be noted that the loop measured at different directions of the magnetic field relative to the main axis of the NTs has different character, which indicates the presence of the magnetic anisotropy in the samples: coercivity and squarness value for parallel orientation (Hc||=330 Oe, Mr||/Ms||=0.39) of the field relative to the NTs axis is several times higher than the values for the perpendicular field direction (Hc⊥=130 Oe, Mr⊥/Ms⊥=0.09). The anisotropy of the magnetic properties could be defined by either crystalline anisotropy, detected in the X-ray analysis, or shape anisotropy, caused by the fact that in an external magnetic field NTs with high aspect ratio (~100) need higher energy of demagnetization along their axis than in the perpendicular direction of the field [15, 17].It should be noted that two states are energetically favorable (stable) due to the absence of the magnetic core in NTs, when the magnetic field lines are directed along the tube axis, or when they are closed inside walls in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The homogeneity of NTs magnetic properties provides the behavior predictability in magnetic field that allows controlling direction and velocity of motion in liquids including biological ones. In addition, obtained nanostructures have a small remanent magnetization, which significantly reduces the probability of conglomerate formation of NTs, which are in a free state.One of the most important characteristics of magnetic NTs for their application as magnetic carriers for targeted delivery is reactivity and rate of oxidation and degradation in environments with different pH value. Our studies were conducted in solutions with pH values of 1, 5, and 7, which corresponds to the pH value of human body (fluid acidity of most organs in the human body is in the range 4–8, except gastric acidity which is about 1). Thus, in simulated biological environment, we were able to get data about changes in Ni NTs structure over the time when they were within the human body. The changing in surface nanotube degradation was studied under the influence of environments with different acidity levels by both SEM and EDS analysis. The evaluation of morphology and composition of Ni NTs over the time up to 20 days is shown in Figure5.Figure 5
SEM images changes of Ni NTs morphology depending on acidity and the duration of exposure.The largest degradation of NTs walls is observed for acidic media with рH = 1. On the tenth day with pH = 1 the formation of loose amorphous areas is observed on the outer side of nanotube walls consisting of oxide nickel compounds with the oxygen content of about 18%. After 20 days the increasing area of amorphous regions and the increasing content of atomic oxygen in nanotube structure to 36% are observed, which lead to partial collapse of walls. Herewith EDS and XRD analysis has showed that formed amorphous regions consist of oxide compounds NiO and Ni2O3, which are toxic and harmful to organic cells, according to [20].The oxygen appearance in structure on the fifth day for environments with рH = 5 and рH = 7 according to EDS is observed; however according to XRD oxide compounds in crystal structure appear on the tenth day. Small amount of oxygen impurities on the fifth day presents due to oxidation of NTs surface layer. On the twentieth day oxygen content in structure was 17% and 9% for рH = 5 and рH = 7, respectively. On the twentieth day for pH = 5 formation of amorphous regions is observed causing partial destruction of nanotube structure. For рH = 7 nodule formation is observed on tube surface, whose average size is 30–35 nm consisting of nickel oxide according to EDS and XRD.Thus, based on the data obtained, we can prove that the long-term presence of Ni NSs (more than a day) in acidic media provokes deep degradation of NTs walls up to the destruction. Taking into account the fact that Ni oxides (II) and (III) are toxic to humans, NTs should be coated before using in biomedicine with resistance to biodegradation layers (e.g., gold, polymers, and silane). It should be noted that short, less than one day, processes (NTs extracting from templates and other types of treatment) were accompanied with slight structural changes on Ni NTs surface. Formation of nickel oxides on NTs surface makes its functionalization easier for the following payloads attaching.Amine functionalization of the surface of Ni NTs was carried out by using organosilicon compound (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The process is based on the chemical inertness of Si-C linkages and the high reactivity of Si-O bond which readily undergoes hydrolysis and reacted with OH-terminated NTs surface. Organosilicon compounds have a low toxicity and LD50 can reach 5000 mg/kg. Amination process is schematically shown in Figure 6(a).Figure 6
Schematic representation of amination of Ni NTs (a) and binding of Acid Orange dye to aminated surface (b).
(a)
(b)After modification of the NTs with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane, the surface is coated by amine-terminated with high reactivity which is used to bind the protein thereto. For quantitative estimation of formed amino groups, colorimetric method using selective dye (Acid Orange) was employed, which was bound to the amino groups on the surface of the Ni NTs (Figure6(b)). Colorimetric analysis results are shown in Table 1. It is seen that the amination of a 20 mM solution occurs with the highest yield.Table 1
The concentration of amino groups on the surface of Ni NTs.
Sample
[NH2], μM/g
Before modification
0.05
NT-NH2 (2 mM)
4.25
NT-NH2 (20 mM)
7.39To confirm the data of the colorimetric analysis, the samples modified with organosilicon compound were examined by SEM with EDS mapping of the surface (Figure7). In the SEM image (Figure 7(a)), a change of the NTs surface with respect to the uncoated sample shown in Figure 2 is considerably different. EDS mapping (Figures 7(b) and 7(c)) clearly shows that the organosilicon compound is localized exceptionally in the surface of the NTs.Figure 7
SEM image of NTs surface modified with organosilicon compound (a); EDS mapping of the NTs surface at the nickel (b) and silicon (c) detection mode; EDS spectra (d).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)The binding protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was performed with the aminated surface through the activated carboxyl groups. The process is schematically shown in Figure8.Figure 8
Scheme protein interaction with the surface of the aminated NTs.
(a)
(b)Considering that FT-IR spectroscopy is a powerful method for identification and investigation of a secondary protein structure, modified samples were studied by infrared spectroscopy using the setup for FT-IR attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy. FT-IR spectra of pure Ni NTs (blue), BSA (red), and NTs after modification by BSA protein (black) are shown in Figure9.Figure 9
FT-IR spectrum of BSA attached to the surface of Ni NTs (1), BSA (2), and Ni NTs (3).On the FT-IR spectra of Ni NTs modified by BSA protein in the region 1000–3500 cm−1 new behavior of the curve is observed compared with the pure FT-IR spectra of NTs: appearance of new peaks at 3100–3400 cm−1 (associated NH group), 1650 cm−1 (C=O peptides), 1540 cm−1 (C-N peptides bond), and 1450 cm−1 (terminal ionized COO-groups) related to the BSA protein which was covalent-bonded with NTs surface. The results indicate that proteins could be attached to the modified by amination Ni NTs. This indicates the ability to bind complex molecules to NTs that can be hereinafter used in the targeted delivery of drugs and proteins.


## 4. Conclusions

Comprehensive study of Ni NTs for bioapplications from synthesis to payloads attaching stages was carried out. The step-by-step growth mechanism of NTs at electrodeposition process in polyethylene terephthalate template was analyzed and possibility of formation of nanostructures with tunable parameters by adapting the deposition parameters and template dimensions was shown. Quite large magnetization at low magnetic fields and magnetic anisotropy of Ni NTs provide their predictable behavior at the movement in the flow of biological fluids. The investigation of degradation degree of Ni NTs in environments with pH close to the human liquids has shown a significant effect of the medium acidity on the NTs oxidation rate up to the destruction of their structure. Moreover, the oxidation leads to formation of oxide compounds NiO and Ni2O3 on the nanostructures surfaces, which are toxic and harmful to organic cells. On the other hand, Ni NTs can be functionalized by organosilicon compounds with a low toxicity. The possibility of surface functionalization with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane, as well as using of functionalized NTs in proteins attaching, has been demonstrated as an example of the binding bovine serum albumin with the aminated surface through the activated carboxyl groups. This investigation demonstrates the prospects of Ni NTs for bioapplication, for instance, to the targeted drug delivery of drags or proteins by means of a magnetic field.



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