Impairment of Coronary Arteriolar Endothelium-Dependent Dilation after Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Inhalation: A Time-Course Study

Abstract

Engineered nanomaterials have been developed for widespread applications due to many highly unique and desirable characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess pulmonary inflammation and subepicardial arteriolar reactivity in response to multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) inhalation and evaluate the time course of vascular alterations. Rats were exposed to MWCNT aerosols producing pulmonary deposition. Pulmonary inflammation via bronchoalveolar lavage and MWCNT translocation from the lungs to systemic organs was evident 24 h post-inhalation. Coronary arterioles were evaluated 24–168 h post-exposure to determine microvascular response to changes in transmural pressure, endothelium-dependent and -independent reactivity. Myogenic responsiveness, vascular smooth muscle reactivity to nitric oxide, and α-adrenergic responses all remained intact. However, a severe impact on endothelium-dependent dilation was observed within 24 h after MWCNT inhalation, a condition which improved, but did not fully return to control after 168 h. In conclusion, results indicate that MWCNT inhalation not only leads to pulmonary inflammation and cytotoxicity at low lung burdens, but also a low level of particle translocation to systemic organs. MWCNT inhalation also leads to impairments of endothelium-dependent dilation in the coronary microcirculation within 24 h, a condition which does not fully dissipate within 168 h. The innovations within the field of nanotechnology, while exciting and novel, can only reach their full potential if toxicity is first properly assessed.

Inhalation exposure to three-dimensional printer emissions stimulates acute hypertension and microvascular dysfunction

“…We have previously observed this type of dysfunction after pulmonary exposure to nanomaterials such as titanium dioxide (Nurkiewicz et al , 2011; Stapleton et al , 2015), cerium dioxide (Minarchick et al , 2013; Minarchick et al , 2015), and carbon nanotubes (Stapleton et al , 2012). However, single toxicant based studies do not accurately relate to the complexity of emissions generated by the 3D printing process.…”

Inhaled Cisplatin Deposition and Distribution in Lymph Nodes in Stage II Lung Cancer Patients

“…These drugs were evaluated in patients with an underlying pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the data presented indicate that the drugs can be used upon exacerbation of the pulmonary disease; however, intense and thorough evaluation of the glucose (in the case of diabetes) has to be performed since the pharmacokinetics of the administered drug are altered. Our work provides, for the first time, the proof of concept that aerosolized chemotherapy is distributed efficiently in lymph node tissue in early-stage lung cancer patients and, therefore, it can be used as a neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatment [33]. Acknowledgements P Zarogoulidis would like to thank C Ritzoulis, Technical Institute of Food Administration and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for his technical assistance in measuring the aerosol droplets with the Mastersizer 2000 laser scattering apparatus (Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire, UK).…”

Monocyte adhesion induced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes and palmitic acid in endothelial cells and alveolar–endothelial co-cultures

“…Oxidative stress is considered to be an important mechanism of action for carbon nanotube-mediated health effects (Shvedova et al, 2012). Airway exposure to MWCNTs in animals have shown impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in coronary arteries (Stapleton et al, 2012), accelerated plaque progression in aorta (Cao et al, 2014), and exacerbated myocardial infarction after ischemia/reperfusion injury (Thompson et al, 2014;Urankar et al, 2012). In vitro model systems have shown that MWCNT exposure can induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of adhesion molecules in cultured endothelial cells (Cao et al, 2014;Pacurari et al, 2011;Vidanapathirana et al, 2012).…”