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Effect of chemical composition and state of the surface on the toxic response to high aspect ratio nanomaterials

Authors :
Bice Fubini
Maura Tomatis
Francesco Turci
Ivana Fenoglio
Source :
Nanomedicine. 6:899-920
Publication Year :
2011
Publisher :
Future Medicine Ltd, 2011.

Abstract

Nanomaterials often act as a double sword. On the one hand they offer exceptional new properties, but on the other hand show signs of toxicity. High aspect ratio nanomaterials (HARNs) cause more concern than isometric nanoparticles owing to their physical similarity with asbestos. Many compounds may be prepared in fibrous shape with nano-sized diameter differing one from the other in various ways. This article reports a comparative picture of the chemical features and related toxic responses to a variety of HARNs, namely carbon nanotubes, asbestos, carbon nanofibers, oxide and metal wires and rods. In spite of similarities in form, durability and several biological responses elicited in vitro and in vivo, carbon nanotubes – opposite to asbestos – quench radicals, are hydrophobic and may be fully purified from metal impurities. Most of the other HARNs produced so far are metal or metal oxide compounds, less biopersistent than carbon nanotubes.

Details

ISSN :
17486963 and 17435889
Volume :
6
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nanomedicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....d919910706d32f7cae3d525fff7a86cf
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm.11.80