Environ Health Toxicol.  2015 ;30(1):e2015001. 10.5620/eht.e2015001.

Effect of aspect ratio on the uptake and toxicity of hydroxylated-multi walled carbon nanotubes in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans

• Eom HJ
• Jeong JS
• Choi J

• KMID: 2380077
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2015001

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In this study, the effect of tube length and outer diameter (OD) size of hydroxylated-multi walled carbon nanotubes (OH-MWCNTs) on their uptake and toxicity was investigated in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using a functional mutant analysis.
METHODS
The physicochemical properties of three different OH-MWCNTs were characterized. Uptake and toxicity were subsequently investigated on C. elegans exposed to MWCNTs with different ODs and tube lengths.
RESULTS
The results of mutant analysis suggest that ingestion is the main route of MWCNTs uptake. We found that OH-MWCNTs with smaller ODs were more toxic than those with larger ODs, and OH-MWCNTs with shorter tube lengths were more toxic than longer counterparts to C. elegans.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall the results suggest the aspect ratio affects the toxicity of MWCNTs in C. elegans. Further thorough study on the relationship between physicochemical properties and toxicity needs to be conducted for more comprehensive understanding of the uptake and toxicity of MWCNTs.

Keyword

Aspect ratio; Caenorhabditis elegans; Functional genomics; Functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes

MeSH Terms

Caenorhabditis elegans*
Caenorhabditis*
Carbon*
Eating
Nanotubes, Carbon*
Carbon
Nanotubes, Carbon