Cellular interactions of doxorubicin-loaded DNA-modified halloysite nanotubesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02665e

Halloysite nanotube (HNT)-based supramolecular complexes are synthesized and evaluated with respect to their cytotoxicity and effects on cellular structures. As HNTs are water-insoluble, DNA is applied for wrapping the surface of HNTs to enhance their water-dispersibility. To investigate the potential of DNA-wrapped HNTs (HD) as a promising drug delivery carrier, doxorubicin (DOX) is introduced as a model anticancer agent and loaded onto HD. The DOX-loaded, DNA-wrapped HNTs (HDD) show sustained DOX release over two weeks without initial burst of DOX indicating delayed DOX release inside cells. In addition, effects of DNA-wrapped HNTs (HD) or HDD on the cytoskeleton organization of A549 cells are studied by visualizing the distribution of F-actin filaments using confocal laser scanning microscopy, and cellular morphological changes are observed by scanning electron microscopy and scanning ion conductance microscopy. A sustained doxorubicin delivery system based on DNA-wrapped halloysite nanotubes is designed and its cellular interactions such as cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, effects on organization of actin cytoskeleton and morphology of adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cells are demonstrated.