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Reactivity of carbon nanotubes: free radical generation or scavenging activity?

Authors :
Fenoglio I
Tomatis M
Lison D
Muller J
Fonseca A
Nagy JB
Fubini B
Source :
Free radical biology & medicine [Free Radic Biol Med] 2006 Apr 01; Vol. 40 (7), pp. 1227-33. Date of Electronic Publication: 2005 Dec 09.
Publication Year :
2006

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) currently attract intense research efforts because of their unique properties which make them suitable for many industrial applications. When inhaled, CNTs constitute a possible hazard to human health. Several studies have shown that when instilled in the lung of experimental animals, CNTs induced an inflammatory and fibrotic response similar to that caused by other toxic particles which might be the result of oxidative stress caused by particle- and/or cell-derived free radicals. There is, however, no direct experimental evidence of a capacity of carbon nanotubes to generate directly free radicals. Here we report that multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in aqueous suspension do not generate oxygen or carbon-centered free radicals in the presence of H2O2 or formate, respectively, as detected with the spin-trapping technique. Conversely, we observed that, when in contact with an external source of hydroxyl or superoxide radicals, MWCNT exhibit a remarkable radical scavenging capacity. It is therefore possible that the inflammatory reaction reported in vivo must be ascribed to MWCNT features other than particle-derived free radical generation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0891-5849
Volume :
40
Issue :
7
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Free radical biology & medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
16545691
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2005.11.010