title: Carbon Nanotube Uptake Changes the Biomechanical Properties of Human Lung Epithelial Cells in a Time-dependent Manner.
abstract: The toxicity of engineered nanomaterials in biological systems depends on both the nanomaterial properties and the exposure duration. Herein we used a multi-tier strategy to investigate the relationship between user-characterized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exposure duration and their induced biochemical and biomechanical effects on model human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Our results showed that exposure to MWCNTs leads to time-dependent intracellular uptake and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), along with time-dependent gradual changes in cellular biomechanical properties. In particular, the amount of internalized MWCNTs followed a sigmoidal curve with the majority of the MWCNTs being internalized within 6h of exposure; further, the sigmoidal uptake correlated with the changes in the oxidative levels and cellular biomechanical properties respectively. Our study provides new insights into the time-dependent induced toxicity caused by exposure to occupationally relevant doses of MWCNTs and could potentially help establish bases for early risk assessments of other nanomaterials toxicological profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV, 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Chenbo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV, 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eldawud
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown WV, 26505, USA.
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown WV, 26505, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kashon
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown WV, 26505, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV, 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Yon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rojanasakul
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV, 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Cerasela Zoica
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Dinu