Carbon nanotubes elicit DNA damage and inflammatory response relative to their size and shape.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been one of the most extensively researched and developed nanomaterials. However, little concern has been placed on their safety. The biological effects of CNTs are believed to differ relative to size and shape. Thus, the relationship between the characteristics of CNTs and their safety needs to be evaluated. In this study, we examined the biological effects of different-sized multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) and single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs). Long and thick MWCNTs induced the strongest DNA damage while similar SWCNTs caused little effect. Comparison of inflammatory responses of various types of CNTs found that peritoneal CNT administration of long and thick MWCNTs increased the total cell number in abdominal lavage fluid in mice. These results indicate that long and thick MWCNT, but not short and thin MWCNT, cause DNA damage and severe inflammatory effects. These findings might provide useful information for constructing novel CNTs with safety.
Yamashita
Kohei
K
Department of Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
Yoshioka
Yasuo
Y
Higashisaka
Kazuma
K
Morishita
Yuki
Y
Yoshida
Tokuyuki
T
Fujimura
Maho
M
Kayamuro
Hiroyuki
H
Nabeshi
Hiromi
H
Yamashita
Takuya
T
Nagano
Kazuya
K
Abe
Yasuhiro
Y
Kamada
Haruhiko
H
Kawai
Yuichi
Y
Mayumi
Tadanori
T
Yoshikawa
Tomoaki
T
Itoh
Norio
N
Tsunoda
Shin-ichi
S
Tsutsumi
Yasuo
Y
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon