Modifications of carbon black nanoparticle surfaces modulate type II pneumocyte homoeostasis

ABSTRACT

Inhalation uptake of carbon black nanoparticles (CBNP) bears the risk of morphological and functional lung impairment attributed to the highly reactive particle surface area. Chemical particle surface modifications might affect particle–cell interactions; however, thus far these alterations have not been determined. This is the first in vivo study comparing particle-induced acute lung injury using Printex®90 (Pr90, 7 µg), Printex®90 covered by benzo[a]pyrene or 9-nitroanthracene (BaP-Pr90, NA-Pr90, 7 µg, 15% BaP or NA by weight), and acetylene carbon black (CB) with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH-AB, 7 µg, 20% PAH by weight). All particles were suspended in distilled water with bovine serum albumin (BSA). In addition, the influence of suspension media was tested using Printex®90 suspended without BSA (Pr90^−BSA, 7 µg). Quartz (DQ12, 7 µg), 70 µl saline (NaCl), and distilled water with or without BSA (H₂O^+/-BSA) were used as reference and controls. It was postulated that CBNP surface modifications trigger pulmonary responses. After oropharyngeal particle aspiration, lung functions were measured 2 d postexposure, followed by lung preparation for histological or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) examinations and type II pneumocyte isolation on d 3. Head-out body plethysmography revealed reduced flow rates induced by PAH-AB. Examinations of BALF demonstrated reduced influx of macrophages after exposure to Pr90^−BSA and decreased lymphocyte levels after Pr90^+BSA or BaP-Pr90 treatment. Further, CBNP induced changes in mRNA expressions (surfactant proteins) in type II pneumocytes. These findings indicate that CBNP surface area and media modulate interactions between NP and lung cells in short-term experiments.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully thank Thomas Ruppersberg of the Department of Clinical Chemistry/Central Laboratories of the Philipps University Marburg for his assistance during head-out body plethysmography and Werner Cassel for his support during statistical analysis, as well as our project partners at the Fraunhofer ITEM Hannover for particle sample preparation and measurements. This work was funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant 03X0093B).

Notes on contributors

Nicole Schreiber

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Michael Ströbele

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Renate Hochscheid

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Elke Kotte

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Petra Weber

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Henning Bockhorn

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.

Bernd Müller

N. S. designed the experimental concept, contributed to the experimental work, analyzed the data, and wrote the article. B. M. initiated the project, oversaw all experimental work and contributed to article preparation. M. S. and H. B. were responsible for CBNP synthesis as well as particle surface modifications and detailed particle characterization. R. H. contributed to the project throughout experimental work, discussion and interpretation of the results, and article writing. E. K. and P. W. were involved in particle application, sampling, sample analysis, and overall text revision. All authors read and approved the final article.