@article {546711,
	title = {Carbon nanotube-assisted optical activation of TGF-β signalling by near-infrared light.},
	journal = {Nat Nanotechnol.},
	volume = {10},
	number = {5},
	year = {2015},
	pages = {465-71},
	abstract = {Receptor-mediated signal transduction modulates complex cellular behaviours such as cell growth, migration and differentiation. Although photoactivatable proteins have emerged as a powerful tool for controlling molecular interactions and\&nbsp;signalling\&nbsp;cascades at precise times and spaces using\&nbsp;light, many of these\&nbsp;light-sensitive proteins are activated by ultraviolent or visible\&nbsp;light, which has limited tissue penetration. Here, we report a single-walled\&nbsp;carbon\&nbsp;nanotube (SWCNT)-assisted approach that enables\&nbsp;near-infraredlight-triggered\&nbsp;activation\&nbsp;of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signal transduction, an important\&nbsp;signalling\&nbsp;pathway in embryonic development and cancer progression. The protein complex of TGF-β and its latency-associated peptide is conjugated onto SWCNTs, where TGF-β is inactive. Upon\&nbsp;near-infrared\&nbsp;irradiation, TGF-β is released through the photothermal effect of SWCNTs and becomes active. The released TGF-β activates downstream signal transduction in live cells and modulates cellular behaviours. Furthermore, preliminary studies show that the method can be used to mediate TGF-β\&nbsp;signalling\&nbsp;in living mice.},
	author = {Lin L. and Liu L. and Zhao B. and Xie R. and Lin W. and Li H. and Li Y. and Shi M. and Chen Y.G. and Springer T.A. and Chen X.}
}
