Distribution of single wall carbon nanotubes in the Xenopus laevis embryo after microinjection

作者：Holt Brian D; Shawky Joseph H; Dahl Kris Noel; Davidson Lance A^*; Islam Mohammad F^*

来源：Journal of Applied Toxicology, 2016, 36(4): 568-578.

DOI：10.1002/jat.3255

• Xenopus laevis
• carbon nanotube
• Raman spectroscopy
• nanoparticle toxicity
• development
• bovine serum albumin
• actin

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are advanced materials with the potential for a myriad of diverse applications, including biological technologies and large-scale usage with the potential for environmental impacts. SWCNTs have been exposed to developing organisms to determine their effects on embryogenesis, and results have been inconsistent arising, in part, from differing material quality, dispersion status, material size, impurity from catalysts and stability. For this study, we utilized highly purified SWCNT samples with short, uniform lengths (14517nm) well dispersed in solution. To test high exposure doses, we microinjected>500 mu gml(-1) SWCNT concentrations into the well-established embryogenesis model, Xenopus laevis, and determined embryo compatibility and subcellular localization during development. SWCNTs localized within cellular progeny of the microinjected cells, but were heterogeneously distributed throughout the target-injected tissue. Co-registering unique Raman spectral intensity of SWCNTs with images of fluorescently labeled subcellular compartments demonstrated that even at regions of highest SWCNT concentration, there were no gross alterations to subcellular microstructures, including filamentous actin, endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles. Furthermore, SWCNTs did not aggregate and localized to the perinuclear subcellular region. Combined, these results suggest that purified and dispersed SWCNTs are not toxic to X. laevis animal cap ectoderm and may be suitable candidate materials for biological applications. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have superlative properties for biological applications, but toxicity studies have yielded inconsistent results. To minimize confounding material effects, we utilized purified, length-selected, individualized SWCNTs. We microinjected high concentrations into the embryogenesis model, Xenopus laevis, and determined that SWCNTs were not toxic, remained individualized and localized within the microinjected cells' progeny. Fluorescently labeling subcellular compartments demonstrated no alterations to subcellular structures and perinuclear subcellular localization. These results suggest that purified, dispersed SWCNTs may be candidate materials for biological applications.

• 出版日期2016-4