Letter abstract
Nature Nanotechnology 4, 747 - 751 (2009)
Published online: 25 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.305
Subject Category: Environmental, health and safety issues
Inhaled carbon nanotubes reach the subpleural tissue in mice
Jessica P. Ryman-Rasmussen1,2, Mark F. Cesta1,2,3, Arnold R. Brody4, Jeanette K. Shipley-Phillips5, Jeffrey I. Everitt5, Earl W. Tewksbury2, Owen R. Moss2, Brian A. Wong2, Darol E. Dodd2, Melvin E. Andersen2 & James C. Bonner1
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are shaped like fibres1 and can stimulate inflammation at the surface of the peritoneum when injected into the abdominal cavity of mice2, raising concerns that inhaled nanotubes3 may cause pleural fibrosis and/or mesothelioma4. Here, we show that multiwalled carbon nanotubes reach the subpleura in mice after a single inhalation exposure of 30 mg m-3 for 6 h. Nanotubes were embedded in the subpleural wall and within subpleural macrophages. Mononuclear cell aggregates on the pleural surface increased in number and size after 1 day and nanotube-containing macrophages were observed within these foci. Subpleural fibrosis unique to this form of nanotubes increased after 2 and 6 weeks following inhalation. None of these effects was seen in mice that inhaled carbon black nanoparticles or a lower dose of nanotubes (1 mg m-3). This work suggests that minimizing inhalation of nanotubes during handling is prudent until further long-term assessments are conducted.
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
- The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27695, USA
Correspondence to: James C. Bonner1 e-mail: james_bonner@ncsu.edu
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