Table 1 The toxicity profiles of different types of CNTs in comparison with asbestos (in vivo studies)
From: The Toxic Truth About Carbon Nanotubes in Water Purification: a Perspective View
Types of CNTs | Diameter/length | Cells types | Result | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asbestos | Diameter (0.394 μm ± 1.83 μm) Length (6.22 μm ± 3.22 μm) | Mesothelioma (mice) | Development of extensive inflammatory and proliferative changes. The carcinogenic activity occurred. | |
MWCNT (mixture with graphite nanofibres) | Length (5–25 μm) Diameter (10–50 nm) | Lungs (mice) Bronchial epithelial cell (human) | No significant lung inflammation or tissue damage but caused systemic immune function alterations. | |
MWCNT | Length (0.5–6.1 μm) Diameter (10–30 nm) | Lungs (rat) Bronchial epithelial cell (human) | Release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators which could lead to lung fibrosing diseases. | |
MWCNT (Nanocyl NC 7000) | Length (5–15 nm) Diameter (0.1–10 μm) | Lungs (Wistar rat) | Increase in BALF total cell count, pronounced multifocal granulomatous inflammation and lung fibrotic were the negative effects. | [70] |
SWCNT | Length (0.7 μm) Diameter (0.2 μm) | Intratracheal instillation (Wistar rat) | There was no increase in total cell or neutrophil count in BALF. Well-dispersed SWCNT did not induce neutrophil inflammation in the lung. | [71] |
SWCNT | Length (0.1–1 μm) Diameter (0.8–1.2 nm) | Lung (mice) | Leads to lung fibrosis effect and acute inflammatory phase reaction were also observed. | |
Rigid MWCNT | Length (5.29 μm) Diameter (50 nm) | Mesotheliomas (rat) | Mesothelial injury by thin and thick MWCNTs is responsible for the extent of inflammogenicity and carcinogenicity. | |
Long MWCNT | Diameter (> 20 nm) | Mesothelial lining of the chest cavity (mice) | Fibroblast formation proliferation which can lead to pulmonary fibrosis. Formation of lesions known as granulomas and inflammation occurrence were included |