title: Direct determination of bioavailable molybdenum in carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Bioavailable residual metallic impurities within carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are responsible for the toxicity of CNTs. Herein we present a method for fast, sensitive determination of bioavailable molybdenum residual catalyst impurities within CNTs by using electrochemical oxidation in neutral pH buffers at low potentials. This method is unique because no other method can rapidly distinguish between bioavailable/mobilizable impurities from defects in CNTs and between the total amounts of impurities. This method will be indispensable for future toxicological studies of CNTs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovanni
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosi
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pumera
mesh_terms: D002021:Buffers; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D008982:Molybdenum