Toxicity and Biocompatibility of Carbon Nanoparticles

Abstract

A review is presented of the literature data concerning the effects induced by carbon nanoparticles on the biological environment and the importance of these effects in human and animal health. The discovery in 1985 of fullerenes, a novel carbon allotrope with a polygonal structure made up solely by 60 carbon atoms, and in 1991 of carbon nanotubes, thin carbon filaments (1-3 microm in length and 1-3 nm in diameter) with extraordinary mechanical properties, opened a wide field of activity in carbon research. During the last few years, practical applications of fullerenes as biological as well as pharmacological agents have been investigated. Various fullerene-based compounds were tested for biological activity, including antiviral, antioxidant, and chemiotactic activities. Nanotubes consist of carbon atoms arranged spirally to form concentric cylinders, that are perfect crystals and thinner than graphite whiskers. They are stronger than steel but very flexible and lightweight and transfer heat better than any other known material. These characteristics make them suitable for various potential applications such as super strong cables and tips for scanning probe microscopes, as well as biomedical devices for drug delivery, medical diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. The effects induced by these nanostructures on rat lung tissues, as well as on human skin and human macrophage and keratinocyte cells are presented.

Fullerene Nanomaterials Inhibit the Allergic Response

“…Toxicological studies using a wide range of nanomaterials have been conflicting and inconclusive (1,2,(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48). Water solubility, dose, exposure time, and similar parameters all appear to influence the cytotoxicity of the fullerenes.…”

Studies on toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on suspension rice cells

“…The possible applications for CNTs range from biomedicine to nanoelectronics and mechanical engineering. To improve the quality of life, nanotechnology has been used in consumer products ranging from health care to agriculture, and concerns about the possible side effects of this technology in ecosystems, human health, and agricultural industries has been addressed [1]. The global demand for CNTs is predicted to be more than many thousands of tons in a single year, and MWCNTs have already been appearing in the market in industrial quantities.…”

Analysis of the cytotoxicity of hierarchical nanoporous graphenic carbon against human glioblastoma grade IV cells

“…The results are consistent with the fact that dose is an important factor in the toxicity of carbon nanoparticles. 23,24 However, the toxic effects also depend on the type of cells, as it was observed that fibroblasts ( Figure 4) were less susceptible to HNC treatment than glioma cells. This might be explained by the high amount of HNC aggregates in fibroblast medium and lower affinity of the HNC particles to fibroblast cells, influencing adhesion to the cell membrane and probably HNC intake by cells.…”