Cytotoxic or Not? Disclosing the Toxic Nature of Carbonaceous Nanomaterials through Nano-Bio Interactions.

Joanna Czarnecka,Artur P Terzyk,Marek Wiśniewski,Paulina Bolibok,Natalia Forbot,Katarzyna Roszek

doi:10.3390/ma13092060

Joanna Czarnecka, Artur P Terzyk + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13092060

Copy DOI

Journal: Materials	Publication Date: Apr 29, 2020
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Nicolaus Copernicus University

Abstract

The cytotoxic influence of two different carbonaceous nanomaterials on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cultured in vitro was compared in the short (1–3 days) and long term (up to 60 days). Amorphous carbon and single-walled carbon nanotubes were chosen and evaluated due to their contrasting physicochemical properties. Both materials, though supposed similarly low-toxic in basic short-term cytotoxicity assays, demonstrated dramatically different properties in the long-term study. The surface chemistry and biomolecule-adsorption capacity turned out to be crucial factors influencing cytotoxicity. We proved that amorphous carbon is able to weakly bind a low-affinity protein coat (so-called soft corona), while carbon nanotubes behaved oppositely. Obtained results from zeta-potential and adsorption measurements for both nanomaterials confirmed that a hard protein corona was present on the single-walled carbon-nanotube surface that aggravated their cytotoxic influence. The long-term exposure of the mesenchymal stem cells to carbon nanotubes, coated by the strongly bound proteins, showed a significant decrease in cell-growth rate, followed by cell senescence and death. These results are of great importance in the light of increasing nanomaterial applications in biomedicine and cell-based therapies. Our better understanding of the puzzling cytotoxicity of carbonaceous nanomaterials, reflecting their surface chemistry and interactions, is helpful in adjusting their properties when tailored for specific applications.

Highlights

Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, carbon black, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and other nanostructures, belong to a rapidly growing family of advanced materials that integrate the distinctive properties of sp2 -hybridized carbon bonds with unique physicochemical properties at the nanoscale
There are still several challenges to overcome in this field, e.g., issues concerning the composition of protein corona, and the ability of protein-coat components to interact with living cells or to play a crucial role in determining cell fate [7,21]
The HRTEM images show the spherical shape of nanoparticles having a very rough surface (Figure 1C,D)

Summary

Introduction

Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, carbon black, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and other nanostructures, belong to a rapidly growing family of advanced materials that integrate the distinctive properties of sp2 -hybridized carbon bonds with unique physicochemical properties at the nanoscale. Each member of the CNM family exhibits inimitable features, e.g., a high surface-to-volume ratio, mechanical strength, acid and base resistivity, and electrical conductivity. Their widespread application in many industrial areas, including energy storage, electronics, sensors, agriculture, and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries [1,2,3,4], is accompanied by increased human exposure. Materials 2020, 13, 2060 such as carbon nanotubes and spherical amorphous nanomaterials, due to their similarity to combustion-derived nanoparticles, may cause adverse effects on human health via the accumulation of entire particles or their degradation products [9]. Their cytotoxicity should be carefully assessed to increase prediction of regarding nanomaterial fate and safety in humans

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion