Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions
Nanotubes (NTs) are mainly known as materials made from various substances, such as carbon, boron, or silicon, which share a nanosized tube-like structure. Among them, carbon-based NTs (CNTs) are the most researched group. CNTs, due to their nonpareil electrical, mechanical, and optical properties,...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Fibers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/9/75 |
| _version_ | 1797488549730189312 |
|---|---|
| author | Silvana Alfei Gian Carlo Schito |
| author_facet | Silvana Alfei Gian Carlo Schito |
| author_sort | Silvana Alfei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanotubes (NTs) are mainly known as materials made from various substances, such as carbon, boron, or silicon, which share a nanosized tube-like structure. Among them, carbon-based NTs (CNTs) are the most researched group. CNTs, due to their nonpareil electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, can provide tremendous achievements in several fields of nanotechnology. Unfortunately, the high costs of production and the lack of unequivocally reliable toxicity data still prohibit their extensive application. In the last decade, a significant number of intriguing nanotubes-like structures were identified in bacteria (BNTs). The majority of experts define BNTs as membranous intercellular bridges that connect neighboring bacterial cell lying in proximity. Despite recent contrasting findings, most evidence suggested that bacteria exploit NTs to realize both antagonistic and cooperative intercellular exchanges of cytoplasmic molecules and nutrients. Among other consequences, it has been proposed that such molecular trade, including even plasmids, can facilitate the emergence of new non-heritable phenotypes and characteristics in multicellular bacterial communities, including resistance to antibiotics, with effects of paramount importance on global health. Here, we provide an enthralling comparison between CNTs, which are synthetically producible and ubiquitously exploitable for improving the quality of human life, and BNTs biosynthetically produced by prokaryotes, whose functions are not still fully clarified, but whose greater knowledge could be crucial to better understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis and combat the phenomenon of resistance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:04:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f663643e17ec4ec8aaeab34d7758ef76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:04:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fibers |
| spelling | doaj.art-f663643e17ec4ec8aaeab34d7758ef762023-11-23T16:11:20ZengMDPI AGFibers2079-64392022-09-011097510.3390/fib10090075Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting OpinionsSilvana Alfei0Gian Carlo Schito1Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 4, 16148 Genoa, ItalyDepartment of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genova, ItalyNanotubes (NTs) are mainly known as materials made from various substances, such as carbon, boron, or silicon, which share a nanosized tube-like structure. Among them, carbon-based NTs (CNTs) are the most researched group. CNTs, due to their nonpareil electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, can provide tremendous achievements in several fields of nanotechnology. Unfortunately, the high costs of production and the lack of unequivocally reliable toxicity data still prohibit their extensive application. In the last decade, a significant number of intriguing nanotubes-like structures were identified in bacteria (BNTs). The majority of experts define BNTs as membranous intercellular bridges that connect neighboring bacterial cell lying in proximity. Despite recent contrasting findings, most evidence suggested that bacteria exploit NTs to realize both antagonistic and cooperative intercellular exchanges of cytoplasmic molecules and nutrients. Among other consequences, it has been proposed that such molecular trade, including even plasmids, can facilitate the emergence of new non-heritable phenotypes and characteristics in multicellular bacterial communities, including resistance to antibiotics, with effects of paramount importance on global health. Here, we provide an enthralling comparison between CNTs, which are synthetically producible and ubiquitously exploitable for improving the quality of human life, and BNTs biosynthetically produced by prokaryotes, whose functions are not still fully clarified, but whose greater knowledge could be crucial to better understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis and combat the phenomenon of resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/9/75carbon nanotubes (CNTs)bacterial nanotubes (BNTs)mechanical prowesselectrical potencyoptical propertiesCNTs biomedical applications |
| spellingShingle | Silvana Alfei Gian Carlo Schito Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions Fibers carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bacterial nanotubes (BNTs) mechanical prowess electrical potency optical properties CNTs biomedical applications |
| title | Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions |
| title_full | Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions |
| title_fullStr | Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions |
| title_short | Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions |
| title_sort | nanotubes carbon based fibers and bacterial nano conduits both arousing a global interest and conflicting opinions |
| topic | carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bacterial nanotubes (BNTs) mechanical prowess electrical potency optical properties CNTs biomedical applications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/9/75 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silvanaalfei nanotubescarbonbasedfibersandbacterialnanoconduitsbotharousingaglobalinterestandconflictingopinions AT giancarloschito nanotubescarbonbasedfibersandbacterialnanoconduitsbotharousingaglobalinterestandconflictingopinions |