Influence of functional groups on toxicity of carbon nanomaterials

Abstract

Abstract. It has been recognized that carbon nanomaterials and soot particles are toxic for human health, but the influence of functionalization on their toxicity as well as the evolution of the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials due to chemical aging in the atmosphere is still controversial. In the current study, the oxidation potential measured by dithiothreitol (DTT) decay rate and the cytotoxicity to murine macrophage cells of different functionalized carbon nanomaterials were investigated to understand the role of functionalization in their toxicities. The DTT decay rates of special black 4A (SB4A), graphene, graphene oxide, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), SWCNT-OH and SWCNT-COOH were 45.9±3.0, 58.5±6.6, 160.7±21.7, 38.9±8.9, 57.0±7.2 and 36.7±0.2 pmol min−1 µg−1, respectively. Epoxide was found to be mainly responsible for the highest DTT decay rate of graphene oxide compared to other carbon nanomaterials based on comprehensive characterizations. Both carboxylation and hydroxylation showed little influence on the oxidation potential of carbon nanomaterials, while epoxidation contributes to the enhancement of oxidation potential. All these carbon nanomaterials were toxic to the murine J774 cell line. However, oxidized carbon nanomaterials (graphene oxide, SWCNT-OH and SWCNT-COOH) showed weaker cytotoxicity to the J774 cell line compared to the corresponding control sample as far as the metabolic activity was considered and stronger cytotoxicity to the J774 cell line regarding the membrane integrity and DNA incorporation. These results imply that epoxidation might enhance the oxidation potential of carbon nanomaterials.