Pulmonary toxicity and translocation of gallium phosphide nanowires to secondary organs following pulmonary exposure in mice
(2023) In Journal of Nanobiotechnology 21(1).- Abstract
Background: III-V semiconductor nanowires are envisioned as being integrated in optoelectronic devices in the near future. However, the perspective of mass production of these nanowires raises concern for human safety due to their asbestos- and carbon nanotube-like properties, including their high aspect ratio shape. Indeed, III-V nanowires have similar dimensions as Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which induce lung cancer by inhalation in rats. It is therefore urgent to investigate the toxicological effects following lung exposure to III-V nanowires prior to their use in industrial production, which entails risk of human exposure. Here, female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 2, 6, and 18 µg (0.12, 0.35 and 1.1 mg/kg bw) of... (More)
Background: III-V semiconductor nanowires are envisioned as being integrated in optoelectronic devices in the near future. However, the perspective of mass production of these nanowires raises concern for human safety due to their asbestos- and carbon nanotube-like properties, including their high aspect ratio shape. Indeed, III-V nanowires have similar dimensions as Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which induce lung cancer by inhalation in rats. It is therefore urgent to investigate the toxicological effects following lung exposure to III-V nanowires prior to their use in industrial production, which entails risk of human exposure. Here, female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 2, 6, and 18 µg (0.12, 0.35 and 1.1 mg/kg bw) of gallium phosphide (III-V) nanowires (99 nm diameter, 3.7 μm length) by intratracheal instillation and the toxicity was investigated 1, 3, 28 days and 3 months after exposure. Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon black Printex 90 nanoparticles were used as benchmark nanomaterials. Results: Gallium phosphide nanowires induced genotoxicity in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and acute inflammation with eosinophilia observable both in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue (1 and 3 days post-exposure). The inflammatory response was comparable to the response following exposure to Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes at similar dose levels. The nanowires underwent partial dissolution in the lung resulting in thinner nanowires, with an estimated in vivo half-life of 3 months. Despite the partial dissolution, nanowires were detected in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, uterus and brain 3 months after exposure. Conclusion: Pulmonary exposure to gallium phosphide nanowires caused similar toxicological effects as the multi-walled carbon nanotube Mitsui-7. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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- author
- Berthing, Trine ; Lard, Mercy LU ; Danielsen, Pernille H. ; Abariute, Laura LU ; Barfod, Kenneth K. ; Adolfsson, Karl LU ; Knudsen, Kristina B. ; Wolff, Henrik ; Prinz, Christelle N. LU and Vogel, Ulla
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Biodistribution, High aspect ratio nanomaterial (HARN), Inflammation, Nanowires, Pulmonary exposure
- in
- Journal of Nanobiotechnology
- volume
- 21
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 322
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37679803
- scopus:85170178738
- ISSN
- 1477-3155
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12951-023-02049-0
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d64ce5fa-9b9b-455b-908d-3048a97a869c
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-20 11:11:55
- date last changed
- 2024-04-19 01:09:03
@article{d64ce5fa-9b9b-455b-908d-3048a97a869c,
abstract = {{<p>Background: III-V semiconductor nanowires are envisioned as being integrated in optoelectronic devices in the near future. However, the perspective of mass production of these nanowires raises concern for human safety due to their asbestos- and carbon nanotube-like properties, including their high aspect ratio shape. Indeed, III-V nanowires have similar dimensions as Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which induce lung cancer by inhalation in rats. It is therefore urgent to investigate the toxicological effects following lung exposure to III-V nanowires prior to their use in industrial production, which entails risk of human exposure. Here, female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 2, 6, and 18 µg (0.12, 0.35 and 1.1 mg/kg bw) of gallium phosphide (III-V) nanowires (99 nm diameter, 3.7 μm length) by intratracheal instillation and the toxicity was investigated 1, 3, 28 days and 3 months after exposure. Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon black Printex 90 nanoparticles were used as benchmark nanomaterials. Results: Gallium phosphide nanowires induced genotoxicity in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and acute inflammation with eosinophilia observable both in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue (1 and 3 days post-exposure). The inflammatory response was comparable to the response following exposure to Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes at similar dose levels. The nanowires underwent partial dissolution in the lung resulting in thinner nanowires, with an estimated in vivo half-life of 3 months. Despite the partial dissolution, nanowires were detected in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, uterus and brain 3 months after exposure. Conclusion: Pulmonary exposure to gallium phosphide nanowires caused similar toxicological effects as the multi-walled carbon nanotube Mitsui-7. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]</p>}},
author = {{Berthing, Trine and Lard, Mercy and Danielsen, Pernille H. and Abariute, Laura and Barfod, Kenneth K. and Adolfsson, Karl and Knudsen, Kristina B. and Wolff, Henrik and Prinz, Christelle N. and Vogel, Ulla}},
issn = {{1477-3155}},
keywords = {{Biodistribution; High aspect ratio nanomaterial (HARN); Inflammation; Nanowires; Pulmonary exposure}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{Journal of Nanobiotechnology}},
title = {{Pulmonary toxicity and translocation of gallium phosphide nanowires to secondary organs following pulmonary exposure in mice}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12951-023-02049-0}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12951-023-02049-0}},
volume = {{21}},
year = {{2023}},
}