Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Surface, 2011, 2 (2), 182-189.

Mechanisms of the cytotoxicity of carbon nanotubes



M. T. Kartel, V. P. Chernykh, L. V. Ivanov, E. A. Gordienko, S. N. Kovalenko, Yu. I. Gubin, O. A. Nardid, E. I. Smolyaninova

Abstract


Probable mechanisms of cytotoxicity of a total fraction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using spin probe methods (in human erythrocytes and rat hepatocytes) and electrical breakdown (in mouse oocytes) have been studied. Erythrocyte membrane damage induced by carbon nanotubes is developed in time. After two-day exposure at 279 K the erythrocyte samples with carbon nanotubes concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 μg / ml showed a part of damaged erythrocytes of 4, 10, 16, and 25%, respectively. A 4 h exposure of rat liver homogenate with carbon nanotubes at 273 K resulted in a significant decrease in liver homogenate mitochondrial activity. The study of the processes of oocyte electroporation has shown that probable mechanisms of nanotube cytotoxicity are associated with an increase in membrane conductivity, alteration of surface potential, formation of defects within the membrane, and as a consequence, with an increase in membrane permeability. In addition to their capability to affect membrane structural changes, the nanotubes have a capacity to inhibit delicate electrochemical processes in cells.

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Copyright (©) 2011 M. T. Kartel, V. P. Chernykh, L. V. Ivanov, E. A. Gordienko, S. N. Kovalenko, Yu. I. Gubin, O. A. Nardid, E. I. Smolyaninova

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