The Cytotoxicity of Layered Black Phosphorus.
Black phosphorus (BP), the latest addition to the family of 2D layered materials, has attracted much interest owing to potential optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, and biomedicine applications. Little is known about its toxicity, such as whether it could be as toxic as white phosphorus. In response to the possibility of BP employment into commercial products and biomedical devices, its cytotoxicity to human lung carcinoma epithelial cells (A549) was investigated. Following a 24 h exposure of the cells with different BP concentrations, cell viability assessments were conducted using water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-8) and methylthiazolyldiphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. The toxicological effects were found to be dose-dependent, with BP reducing cell viabilities to 48% (WST-8) and 34% (MTT) at 50 μg mL(-1) exposure. This toxicity was observed to be generally intermediate between that of graphene oxides and exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, WSe2). The relatively low toxicity paves the way to utilization of black phosphorus.
Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371 (Singapore), Fax: (+65) 6791-1961.
Naziah Mohamad
NM
Latiff
Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371 (Singapore), Fax: (+65) 6791-1961.
Wei Zhe
WZ
Teo
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Central Laboratories, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6 (Czech Republic).
Zdenek
Z
Sofer
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA (UK).
Adrian C
AC
Fisher
Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371 (Singapore), Fax: (+65) 6791-1961. pumera.research@outlook.com.
Martin
M
Pumera
black phosphorus; nanomaterials; toxicology