Cellulose nanowhiskers: Preparation, characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the structure and to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) prepared from cotton linters.Methods: A series of CNW dispersions was prepared by hydrolyzing cotton linters with sulfuric acid. The structure of CNW was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The cytotoxicity of CNW dispersions to L929 cells was preliminarily investigated by cell culture and MTT assay.Results: SEM and TEM observation showed that the original cotton litters have been successfully acid-hydrolyzed into cellulose nanowhiskers having needle-or short rod-like structure with an average length of 250 nm and diameter of 10 nm. XRD patterns suggested that degree of crystalline in the CNW was much higher than that in the cotton linters as a result that the acid-hydrolysis process has removed the amorphous domains in the cotton linters. The results from MTT assay and cell morphology observation indicated that CNW with concentration from 0.01% to 0.2% had low toxicity to L929 cells, while cytotoxicity showed an increase tendency with an increase in the concentration of CNW.Conclusions: Cellulose nanowhiskers dispersion could be prepared from cotton linters by acid-hydrolysis process. CNW showed potential applications as nanobiomaterials due to its low cytotoxicity.

Fibrillar vs crystalline nanocellulose pulmonary epithelial cell responses: Cytotoxicity or inflammation?

“…This needs to be considered as it is well established that nanoparticle size, shape, and morphology may influence toxicity (Hanif et al, 2014). Currently, no published results have revealed definite safety concerns of NC in the workplace, but indications of dose-dependent toxicity and inflammatory effects have been reported (Ni et al, 2012;Pereira et al, 2013). Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly assess and understand the impact of NC on human health and the environment.…”

Cellulose nanocrystals from grape pomace: Production, properties and cytotoxicity assessment

“…Dong, Hirani, Colacino, Lee, and Roman (2012) reported no cytotoxic effect of plant-derived CNCs for a variety of mammalian cells in the concentration range of 0-0.05 mg/mL, up to 48 h. Other authors observed a dosedependent cytotoxicity of CNCs. As an example, Ni et al (2012) reported the cytotoxicity of CNCs prepared from cotton linters, presented as cellulose nanowhiskers. Low cytotoxicity was observed at low concentrations (up to 2.0 mg/mL), increasing for higher concentrations (10 mg/mL).…”

Safer-by-design hybrid nanostructures: an alternative to conventional titanium dioxide UV filters in skin care products

“…28,29 For example, Endes et al 30 did not detect any signicant cytotoxicity or oxidative stress induction or (pro)inammatory responses in a multi-cellular in vitro test of the human epithelial airway barrier at the air-liquid interface for CNC suspensions with different concentrations, even up to the highest concentration of 1.57 mg cm À3 . Ni et al 31 investigated the cytotoxicity of CNC dispersions to L929 cells by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and found no signicant effect of different suspension concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 0.2%. Hanif et al 32 also shared a similar result in which they showed that the CNC do not reveal much cytotoxicity at various concentrations up to 250 mg ml À1 .…”