Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) demonstrate a strong potential as an optically activated theranostic nano-agent. However, using SWCNTs in theranostics still requires revealing mechanisms of the SWCNT-mediated effects on cellular functions. Even though rapid and delayed cellular responses can differ significantly and may lead to undesirable consequences, understanding of these mechanisms is still incomplete. We demonstrate that introducing short (150–250 nm) SWCNTs into C6 rat glioma cells leads to SWCNT-driven effects that show pronounced time dependence. Accumulation of SWCNTs is carried out due to endocytosis with modification of the actin cytoskeleton but not accompanied with autophagy. Its initial stage launches a rapid cellular response via significantly heightened mitochondrial membrane potential and superoxide anion radical production, satisfying the cell demand of energy for SWCNT transfer inside the cytoplasm. In the long term, SWCNTs agglomerate to micron-sized structures surrounded by highly active mitochondria having parameters return to control values. SWCNTs postponed effects are also manifested themselves in the suppression of the cell proliferative activity with further restoration after five passages. These results demonstrate relative cellular inertness and safety of SWCNTs eliminating possible side effects caused by optically activated theranostic applications.

单壁碳纳米管 (SWCNT) 作为光激活治疗诊断纳米剂具有强大的潜力。然而，在治疗诊断中使用 SWCNTs 仍然需要揭示 SWCNT 介导的对细胞功能的影响的机制。尽管快速和延迟的细胞反应可能存在显着差异并可能导致不良后果，但对这些机制的理解仍然不完整。我们证明将短 (150–250 nm) SWCNTs 引入 C6 大鼠神经胶质瘤细胞会导致 SWCNT 驱动的效应显示出明显的时间依赖性。SWCNTs 的积累是由于内吞作用和肌动蛋白细胞骨架的修饰而进行的，但不伴有自噬。它的初始阶段通过显着提高的线粒体膜电位和超氧阴离子自由基的产生来启动快速的细胞反应，满足细胞对单壁碳纳米管在细胞质内转移的能量需求。从长远来看，单壁碳纳米管聚集成微米大小的结构，被高活性线粒体包围，参数恢复到控制值。单壁碳纳米管的延缓效应也表现在对细胞增殖活性的抑制，并在五次传代后进一步恢复。这些结果证明了 SWCNT 的相对细胞惰性和安全性，消除了由光激活治疗诊断应用引起的可能的副作用。SWCNT 聚集成微米大小的结构，被高活性线粒体包围，参数返回到控制值。单壁碳纳米管的延缓效应也表现在对细胞增殖活性的抑制，并在五次传代后进一步恢复。这些结果证明了 SWCNT 的相对细胞惰性和安全性，消除了由光激活治疗诊断应用引起的可能的副作用。SWCNT 聚集成微米大小的结构，被高活性线粒体包围，参数返回到控制值。单壁碳纳米管的延缓效应也表现在对细胞增殖活性的抑制，并在五次传代后进一步恢复。这些结果证明了 SWCNT 的相对细胞惰性和安全性，消除了由光激活治疗诊断应用引起的可能的副作用。