Effects of Phosphoryl Choline Grafted Water Soluble Carbon Nanotubes Examined by Different Cytotoxicity Methods in 16-HEB Cells

The widespread explored application of water soluble carbon nanotubes makes it important to understand their potential toxic effects on health. This study investigates the effects of phosphoryl choline grafted water soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-PC) on human bronchial epithelial (16-HBE) cells by different cytotoxicity methods in vitro. Various concentrations of MWCNTs-PC were incubated with 16-HBE cells, the effects of cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and DNA damage were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE) and micronuclear assay, respectively. Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the changes of cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and DNA damage. Within the experimental concentrations of MWCNTs-PC, no obviously cytotoxicity and DNA damage was observed on 16-HBE cells in this study.