Understanding carbon nanotube genotoxicity

Details

• Personal Author:
  Benkovic SA ; Bunker KL ; Dinu CZ ; Hubbs, Ann F. ; Kashon ML ; Lowry DT ; Mastovich J ; Reynolds SH ; Sargent LM ; Siegrist KJ ; Sturgeon JL
• Description:
  Carbon nanotubes have many applications in medicine, electronics, aerospace and computer circuits. However, in order to use nanotubes for such applications, their potential genotoxic and cytotoxic effects need to be understood. We are studying nanotube interaction with cells and isolated cellular components, to determine mechanisms responsible for cell fate. Specifically, we exposed primary and immortalized human epithelial cells to single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes and examined the potential of nanotubes to induce genetic damage. The microscopy results showed fragmented centrosomes, multipolar mitotic spindles and errors in chromosome number following exposure to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). The larger multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) primarily induced mitotic spindles with one mitotic spindle pole. The nanotubes associated with microtubules and centrosomes and formed biohybrids localized at the nucleus. In order to explain this behavior, we polymerized microtubules in vitro and we used kinesin motors to show integration with nanotubes and manipulation of functional biohybrid assemblies. In eukaryotic cells, microtubules play roles in intracellular transport as well as cell division. Microtubules assemble into mitotic spindles, while the kinesin motors are responsible for microtubule-based transport and cellular division. Our results demonstrate disruption of the mitotic spindle by nanotubes and give further evidence of the mechanism responsible for the disruption of cell division. These results suggest caution should be used in the handling and processing of carbon nanotubes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Cell Division Cytotoxins Hazardous Substances Lung Lung Diseases Microbiology Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Airborne-particles Biodynamics Biological-effects Cell-biology Cell-division Cellular-reactions Cytotoxic-effects Exposure-levels Genotoxic-effects Genotoxicity Inhalation-studies Lung-disorders Microscopic-analysis Nanotechnology Physiological-effects Pulmonary-system-disorders Quantitative-analysis Respiratory-system-disorders Statistical-analysis Toxic-effects

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  11-12
• Volume:
  120
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20038437
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2011 Mar; 120(Suppl 2):11-12
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 50th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 6-10, 2011, Washington, DC
• Supplement:
  2
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fd9fbb98365cba80a82c628eaea7fc2cf5ac467dcec4d6e7f800f9f2a023dba79953d96a97641af6e0e8065c7f4650a076c128b2d00a43c98204022714d5d4ba
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192150/cdc_192150_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.11 MB ]