title: Mechanistic insights into nanotoxicity determined by synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared imaging and multivariate analysis.
abstract: Our ability to identify the mechanisms by which carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) exert toxicity in cells is constrained by the lack of standardized methodologies to assay endpoint effects. Herein we describe a method of mechanistically identifying the effects of various CBN types in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using multi-beam synchrotron radiation-based Fourier-transform infrared imaging (SR-FTIRI) at diffraction-limited resolution. This technique overcomes many of the inherent difficulties of assaying nanotoxicity and demonstrates exceptional sensitivity in identifying the effects of CBNs in cells at environmentally-relevant concentrations. We identify key mechanisms of nanotoxicity as the alteration of Amide and lipid biomolecules, but propose more specific bioactivity of CBNs occurs as a result of specific interactions between CBN structural conformation and cellular characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Riding
authors.forename: Júlio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hirschmugl
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kirk T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Francis L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances