Toxicity of SWCNT Synthesized from Fermented Tapioca on SH-SY5Y Cells

Abstract

The unique physical properties and strength of carbon nanotube (CNT) lend to its wide application in many fields as diverse engineering, physics and biomedicine. Biomedicine, the toxicity of CNTs was cause for concern on the application as a delivery tool for therapeutic proteins, peptides and genes in the treatment of cancer and neurodegeneration. CNTs were reported to exert adverse effects on normal neuronal function, probably due accumulation in the brain, leading to brain damage. Thus, toxicity tests of CNTs on cells would be relevant in determining potential side effects and dosage. This study was set out to evaluate the toxicity of SWCNTs derived from fermented tapioca on SH-SY5Y cells. Fermented tapioca, was a well known Malaysian local food, and was an excellent precursor for SWCNT synthesis. The raw synthesized SWCNTs were directly used to study the effect on SH-SY5Y cells. Cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity test were performed. The neurotoxicity test results showed higher cell viability compared to the cytotoxicity test. Cell viability for neurotoxicity test was above 50 % for CNT concentration ranges of 250 μg/ml and below. However cell viability decreased markedly at 500 μg/ml. The percentage of cell viability was high at 50 μg/ml and below for the first 24 h of treatment but longer treatment duration resulted in significant decrease in cell viability for all concentrations above 10 μg/ml. These findings demonstrated that CNTs were safe when used at concentration less than 10 μg/ml.