Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
20
Immunotoxicity of Carbon
Nanoparticles
Paulami Pal, Bhaskar Mazumder, and Yaswant Pathak
CONTENTS
20.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 425
20.2 Immunology ....................................................................................................................... 426
20.3 Carbon Nanoparticle and Its Routes of Entry within the Body ......................................... 427
20.4 Physical Attribute of Carbon Nanoparticles Responsible for Toxicity .............................. 429
20.5 Nanoparticles Responsible for Toxicity .............................................................................. 430
20.6 Cell Uptake of Carbon Nanoparticle .................................................................................. 430
20.7 Mechanism of Carbon Nanoparticle Toxicity .................................................................... 430
20.7.1 Free Radical Formation ....................................................................................... 431
20.7.2 Reactive Oxygen Species ..................................................................................... 431
20.7.3 Increased Inflammatory Responses ..................................................................... 431
20.7.4 Granuloma Formation .......................................................................................... 432
20.7.5 Apoptosis ............................................................................................................. 432
20.8 Carbon Nanoparticle-Induced Oxidative Stress ................................................................. 432
20.9 Inflammatory Response and Phagocytosis ........................................................................ 433
20.10 Antigenicity ........................................................................................................................ 433
20.11 Causes of Carbon Nanoparticle Immunotoxicity and Control ........................................... 433
20.12 Effects of Nanoparticle-Adsorbed Proteins (Peptides) on Immune Response................... 434
20.13 Lung Toxicity ..................................................................................................................... 435
20.13.1 Effects on Lungs .................................................................................................. 436
20.13.2 Lungs Disorder That May Rise from Exposure to Nanoparticles ....................... 437
20.13.2.1 Pulmonary Fibrosis ........................................................................... 437
20.13.2.2 Pneumoconiosis ................................................................................. 437
20.13.2.3 Exacerbation of Asthma .................................................................... 438
20.14 Cytotoxicity ........................................................................................................................ 438
20.15 Dermal Toxicity .................................................................................................................. 439
20.16 Genotoxicity ....................................................................................................................... 439
20.17 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................440
References ...................................................................................................................................... 4 41
20.1 INTRODUCTION
Nanoscience and nanotechnology is the study of materials or particles having a size ranging between
0.1 and 100 nm. Advancements in nanoscience have thrown a new light of hope on biomedical sci-
ence and therapy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified nanoparticles (NPs)
into four distinct groups: (1) carbon-based materials, (2) metal-based materials, (3) dendrimers, and
(4) composites, including nanoclay [1].
In this chapter, we will focus on carbon-based NPs and their toxicity with special emphasis
on immunotoxicity of carbon NPs. Carbon nanofibers or vapor-grown nanofibers are cylindrical
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