Carcinogenicity evaluation for the application of carbon nanotubes as biomaterials in rasH2 mice.
The application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as biomaterials is of wide interest, and studies examining their application in medicine have had considerable significance. Biological safety is the most important factor when considering the clinical application of CNTs as biomaterials, and various toxicity evaluations are required. Among these evaluations, carcinogenicity should be examined with the highest priority; however, no report using transgenic mice to evaluate the carcinogenicity of CNTs has been published to date. Here, we performed a carcinogenicity test by implanting multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) into the subcutaneous tissue of rasH2 mice, using the carbon black present in black tattoo ink as a reference material for safety. The rasH2 mice did not develop neoplasms after being injected with MWCNTs; instead, MWCNTs showed lower carcinogenicity than carbon black. Such evaluations should facilitate the clinical application and development of CNTs for use in important medical fields.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi 3-1-1,Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan.
Seiji
S
Takanashi
Kazuo
K
Hara
Kaoru
K
Aoki
Yuki
Y
Usui
Masayuki
M
Shimizu
Hisao
H
Haniu
Nobuhide
N
Ogihara
Norio
N
Ishigaki
Koichi
K
Nakamura
Masanori
M
Okamoto
Shinsuke
S
Kobayashi
Hiroyuki
H
Kato
Kenji
K
Sano
Naoyuki
N
Nishimura
Hideki
H
Tsutsumi
Kazuhiko
K
Machida
Naoto
N
Saito
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D002244:Carbon / Q000633:toxicity; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002273:Carcinogens; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D002244:Carbon; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)