Carbon nanotubes often used in sports equipments and medical applications are among the strongest fibres having significant electronic properties.
Researchers from the North Carolina State University, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences used a mouse model to examine the effect of inhalation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the lungs.
The study’s aim was to determine whether these carbon nanotubes had the potential of reaching pleura which is thought to be at an increased risk of being affected by the asbestos fibres present in the carbon nanotubes.
Asbestos is a group of naturally produced fibrous minerals that are extremely dangerous when inhaled and could cause mesothelioma--cancer
in mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs.
Unique reaction seen within a day
Within a day of exposing the mouse model to the carbon nanotubes, a unique reaction started developing around the pleura. The exposure caused the immune cells to gather on the surface of the protective lining of the lungs, indicating protection against the alien particles.
Thus, it was clear that the carbon fibres could reach out the pleura.
The inhaled nanotubes "clearly reach the target tissue for mesothelioma and cause a unique pathologic reaction on the surface of the pleura, and caused fibrosis," stated Dr. James Bonner, associate professor of environmental and molecular toxicology at NC State and senior author of the study.
Long-term effects to be seen
The scientists only looked at the single exposure of the carbon fibres which was a major limitation of the study. However, long-term effects of the repeated exposure of carbon nanotubes are yet to be seen.
"More work needs to be done in that area and it is completely unknown at this point whether inhaled carbon nanotubes will prove to be carcinogenic in the lungs or in the pleural lining," the researchers said.
The study’s findings appear in the journal, Nature Nanotechnology.
Post new comment