Interaction of nano carbon particles and anthracene with pulmonary surfactant: The potential hazards of inhaled nanoparticles

Abstract

Understanding the alteration of the air-liquid interfacial properties of pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the presence of nanoparticles (NPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is particularly important for pulmonary risk assessment. Here, we investigated the interaction of natural PS (extracted from pig's lungs) with nano carbon particles (NCPs) and anthracene as a representative PAH. Our results showed that PS exhibited a significant solubilization effect on anthracene. Solubilization experiment for the substructures of PS demonstrated that the mixed phospholipid components of PS played the primary role in the solubilization of PS for anthracene. Adsorption experiment indicated that in the mixed system of PS, NCPs, and anthracene, PS can inhibit the adsorption of anthracene on NCPs due to the solubilization, agglomeration, and competitive adsorption. In addition, the surface tension, phase behavior, and foaming ability of PS were obviously altered in the presence of NCPs. These findings indicate that the solubilization effect of PS on anthracene, the inhibitive effect of PS for the adsorption of anthracene on NCPs, and the alternation of air-liquid interfacial properties of PS containing NCPs may increase the pulmonary risk in the exposure of atmospheric environment containing both PAHs and NCPs.