Adverse Effects of Industrial Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Human Pulmonary Cells

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate adverse effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), produced for industrial purposes, on the human epithelial cell line A549. MWCNT were dispersed in dipalmitoyl lecithin (DPL), a component of pulmonary surfactant, and the effects of dispersion in DPL were compared to those in two other media: ethanol (EtOH) and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Effects of MWCNT were also compared to those of two asbestos fibers (chrysotile and crocidolite) and carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, not only in A549 cells but also in mesothelial cells (MeT5A human cell line), used as an asbestos-sensitive cell type. MWCNT formed agglomerates on top of both cell lines (surface area 15-35 microm(2)) that were significantly larger and more numerous in PBS than in EtOH and DPL. Whatever the dispersion media, incubation with 100 microg/ml MWCNT induced a similar decrease in metabolic activity without changing cell membrane permeability or apoptosis. Neither MWCNT cellular internalization nor oxidative stress was observed. In contrast, asbestos fibers penetrated into the cells, decreased metabolic activity but not cell membrane permeability, and increased apoptosis, without decreasing cell number. CB was internalized without any adverse effects. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that MWCNT produced for industrial purposes exert adverse effects without being internalized by human epithelial and mesothelial pulmonary cell lines.

Elucidation mechanism of different biological responses to multi-walled carbon nanotubes using four cell lines

“…There have been some reports on the toxicity of CNTs using different cell types 25,26 where biological responses, such as cell viability, morphology change and DNA content, were reported to be different according to the types of cells. Recently, we found that the differences in the sensitivity to MWCNTs were caused by the volume ratio between cell and MWCNTs.…”

Repeated exposure to carbon nanotube-based aerosols does not affect the functional properties of a 3D human epithelial airway model

“…In addition, many publications on acute or long-term consequences of industrial CNT exposures were performed in vitro by using lung cell cultures under submerged conditions (Clift et al, 2014;Snyder-Talkington et al, 2013;Tabet et al, 2009;Thurnherr et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2011). However, such exposures in suspension do not represent a realistic situation of what would be expected in the human lung when fibers are inhaled.…”

Design and Characterization of an Inhalation System of Iron and Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles for Rodent Exposure

“…As stated earlier, instillation of particles implies that NP are given not as powders but as suspensions. In such preparations, NP are not present as single NP but usually as (large) agglomerates (Tabet et al 2009;Porter et al 2008;M€ oller et al 2013), which will determine how many and where the particles may deposit within the respiratory tract. Consequently, it will also have implications in the translocation of the NP, and further biological effects (Li et al 2007;Shvedova et al 2008).…”

“…These suspensions depending on the dispersant will lead to the formation of agglomerates/aggregates of different number concentration, size, stability, and will behave differently from a powder of similar NP composition. These parameters can largely influence the subsequent biological effects of a given NP (Monteiro-Riviere et al 2005;Li et al 2007;Shvedova et al 2008;Tabet et al 2009;Andujar et al 2014). Andujar et al (2014).…”