Safety and Toxicity of Carbon Nanotubes, Nanoparticles and Other Nanomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2024 | Viewed by 5430

Special Issue Editors

Nanomaterial Toxicology Project Laboratory, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
Interests: nanotoxicology; cancer prevention; hiking

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The extraordinary physicochemical properties of engineered nanomaterials and nanoparticles (herein referred to as NMPs) gives them a multitude of uses. Different NMPs can also have different toxicities. NMPs are very lightweight and easily inhaled. The biopersistence of inhaled NMPs can lead to persistent inflammation in the lungs, which in turn can lead to respiratory disorders and neoplasia. In addition to inhalation, humans can be exposed to NMPs via dermal contact and via the ingestion of NMPs in food and water. The risks to human health and the environment posed by NMPs are of concern because of their numerous industrial applications and the use of NMPs in a wide range of commercial products. However, the elimination of currently used NMPs would likely have an immense negative impact on human society. Nonetheless, the risks posed by NMPs cannot be ignored. Therefore, hazardous NMPs need to be identified, and risk assessment studies need to be carried out. If risk assessments determine that an NMP can be safely used, appropriate regulations should be put into place that ensure the safe manufacture and use of the NMP.

The goal of this Special Issue is to highlight the latest research on the toxicology and safe use of nanomaterials and nanoparticles. We invite original research articles and reviews on human exposure to nanomaterials and nanoparticles, the toxicities of different types of nanomaterials and nanoparticles, and workplace and user safety measures that can be applied to ensure the safe manufacture and use of these extremely valuable materials.

Prof. Dr. Hiroyuki Tsuda
Dr. David B. Alexander
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • inhalation toxicity of nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • dermal toxicity of nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • oral toxicity of nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • biopersistance of nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • human exposure to nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • workplace safety
  • users’ safety

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 5312 KiB  
Article
Time-Course of Transcriptomic Change in the Lungs of F344 Rats Repeatedly Exposed to a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube in a 2-Year Test
by Motoki Hojo, Ai Maeno, Yoshimitsu Sakamoto, Yukio Yamamoto, Yuhji Taquahashi, Akihiko Hirose, Jin Suzuki, Akiko Inomata and Dai Nakae
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(14), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142105 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1241
Abstract
Despite intensive toxicological studies of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) over the last two decades, only a few studies have demonstrated their pulmonary carcinogenicities in chronic animal experiments, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. To obtain molecular insights into CNT-induced lung carcinogenicity, we [...] Read more.
Despite intensive toxicological studies of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) over the last two decades, only a few studies have demonstrated their pulmonary carcinogenicities in chronic animal experiments, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. To obtain molecular insights into CNT-induced lung carcinogenicity, we performed a transcriptomic analysis using a set of lung tissues collected from rats in a 2-year study, in which lung tumors were induced by repeated intratracheal instillations of a multiwalled carbon nanotube, MWNT-7. The RNA-seq-based transcriptome identified a large number of significantly differentially expressed genes at Year 0.5, Year 1, and Year 2. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that macrophage-elicited signaling pathways such as phagocytosis, acute phase response, and Toll-like receptor signaling were activated throughout the experimental period. At Year 2, cancer-related pathways including ERBB signaling and some axonal guidance signaling pathways such as EphB4 signaling were perturbed. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry indicated that several key molecules such as Osteopontin/Spp1, Hmox1, Mmp12, and ERBB2 were markedly altered and/or localized in the preneoplastic lesions, suggesting their participation in the induction of lung cancer. Our findings support a scenario of inflammation-induced carcinogenesis and contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of MWCNT carcinogenicity. Full article
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31 pages, 6220 KiB  
Article
Single-Walled vs. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Influence of Physico-Chemical Properties on Toxicogenomics Responses in Mouse Lungs
by Silvia Aidee Solorio-Rodriguez, Andrew Williams, Sarah Søs Poulsen, Kristina Bram Knudsen, Keld Alstrup Jensen, Per Axel Clausen, Pernille Høgh Danielsen, Håkan Wallin, Ulla Vogel and Sabina Halappanavar
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061059 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are nanomaterials with one or multiple layers of carbon sheets. While it is suggested that various properties influence their toxicity, the specific mechanisms are not completely known. This study was aimed to determine if [...] Read more.
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are nanomaterials with one or multiple layers of carbon sheets. While it is suggested that various properties influence their toxicity, the specific mechanisms are not completely known. This study was aimed to determine if single or multi-walled structures and surface functionalization influence pulmonary toxicity and to identify the underlying mechanisms of toxicity. Female C57BL/6J BomTac mice were exposed to a single dose of 6, 18, or 54 μg/mouse of twelve SWCNTs or MWCNTs of different properties. Neutrophil influx and DNA damage were assessed on days 1 and 28 post-exposure. Genome microarrays and various bioinformatics and statistical methods were used to identify the biological processes, pathways and functions altered post-exposure to CNTs. All CNTs were ranked for their potency to induce transcriptional perturbation using benchmark dose modelling. All CNTs induced tissue inflammation. MWCNTs were more genotoxic than SWCNTs. Transcriptomics analysis showed similar responses across CNTs at the pathway level at the high dose, which included the perturbation of inflammatory, cellular stress, metabolism, and DNA damage responses. Of all CNTs, one pristine SWCNT was found to be the most potent and potentially fibrogenic, so it should be prioritized for further toxicity testing. Full article
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Review

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28 pages, 4986 KiB  
Review
Exposure of Rats to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Correlation of Inhalation Exposure to Lung Burden, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Findings, and Lung Morphology
by Tatsuya Kasai and Shoji Fukushima
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2598; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182598 - 20 Sep 2023
Viewed by 849
Abstract
To evaluate lung toxicity due to inhalation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in rats, we developed a unique MWCNT aerosol generator based on dry aerosolization using the aerodynamic cyclone principle. Rats were exposed to MWNT-7 (also known as Mutsui-7 and MWCNT-7) aerosolized using [...] Read more.
To evaluate lung toxicity due to inhalation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in rats, we developed a unique MWCNT aerosol generator based on dry aerosolization using the aerodynamic cyclone principle. Rats were exposed to MWNT-7 (also known as Mutsui-7 and MWCNT-7) aerosolized using this device. We report here an analysis of previously published data and additional unpublished data obtained in 1-day, 2-week, 13-week, and 2-year inhalation exposure studies. In one-day studies, it was found that approximately 50% of the deposited MWNT-7 fibers were cleared the day after the end of exposure, but that clearance of the remaining fibers was markedly reduced. This is in agreement with the premise that the rapidly cleared fibers were deposited in the ciliated airways while the slowly cleared fibers were deposited beyond the ciliated airways in the respiratory zone. Macrophage clearance of MWNT-7 fibers from the alveoli was limited. Instead of macrophage clearance from the alveoli, containment of MWNT-7 fibers within induced granulomatous lesions was observed. The earliest changes indicative of pulmonary toxicity were seen in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Macrophage-associated inflammation persisted from the one-day exposure to MWNT-7 to the end of the two-year exposure period. Correlation of lung tumor development with MWNT-7 lung burden required incorporating the concept of area under the curve for the duration of the study; the development of lung tumors induced by MWNT-7 correlated with lung burden and the duration of MWNT-7 residence in the lung. Full article
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