NANOTOXICITY OF MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES TO A549 CELLS IN VITRO

Author:

Wang, Fu-De  Zhang, Hua  Jin, Chan  Liang, Hao  Tang, Ying  Yang, Yong-Ji  

Journal:

NANO

Issue Date:

2014

Abstract(summary):

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been widely applied in many fields due to the excellent physical and chemical properties. As the production and applications of nanotubes expand, public concern about their potential risks to human health has also raised. Cytotoxicity of MWCNTs was evaluated in this study using a cultured human epithelial cell line A549. Uptake of MWCNTs by cultured A549 cells was observed by TEM imaging. Dose-dependent decrease of cell viability showed the cytotoxicity of MWCNTs. Significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and GSH depletion which reduced the cellular antioxidant level could be the major factor of cytotoxicity induced by MWCNTs. MWCNTs seemed to trigger the activation of cell autophagy with the intracellular ATG16L1 level increase as a defense mechanism.