Morphological transformation induced by multiwall carbon nanotubes on Balb/3T3 cell model as an in vitro end point of carcinogenic potential

Abstract

In this work we investigated the toxicological effects of nude and chemically functionalised (-NH₂, -OH and -COOH groups) multiwall carbon nanotubes (mwCNTs) using immortalised mouse fibroblasts cell line (Balb/3T3) as in vitro model, alternative to the use of animals, to assess basal cytotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, genotoxicity and cell interaction of nanomaterials (NM). Combining in vitro tests such as cell transformation assay and micronucleus with physicochemical and topological analysis, we obtained results showing no cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Carcinogenic potential and mwCNTs interaction with cells were instead evident. We stressed the importance that different toxicological end points have to be considered when studying NM, therefore, assays able to detect long-term effects, such as carcinogenicity, must be taken into account together with a panel of tests able to detect more immediate effects like basal cytotoxicity or genotoxicity.

Keywords::

• Multiwall carbon nanotubes
• morphological transformation
• carcinogenic potential
• genotoxicity
• cytotoxicity
• Balb/3T3
• physicochemical properties
• asbestos
• electron microscopy

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by European Commission funded competitive projects “Intelligent multi-reactive textiles integrating nano-filler based CPC-fibers” (INTELTEX), NMP-CT-2006-026626.