Physical and Chemical Determinants of Nanofiber/Nanotube Toxicity
Project Information
| Principal Investigator | Robert Hurt |
| Institution | Brown University |
| Project URL | View |
| Relevance to Implications | High |
| Class of Nanomaterial | Engineered Nanomaterials |
| Impact Sector | Human Health |
| Broad Research Categories |
Hazard Characterization |
| NNI identifier |
Funding Information
| Country | USA |
| Anticipated Total Funding | $335,000.00 |
| Annual Funding | $111,666.67 |
| Funding Source | EPA |
| Funding Mechanism | Extramural |
| Funding Sector | Government |
| Start Year | 2004 |
| Anticipated End Year | 2007 |
Abstract/Summary
Tubular and fibrous materials play a very special role in emerging nanotechnologies, but may show asbestos-like toxicity in humans upon inhalation. For asbestos fibers, it is known that both surface-reactive transition metals and fibrous geometry are major determinants of toxicity. Most commercial nanotubes/fibers are complex materials containing transition metal catalysts or residues and exhibiting complex distributions of length and diameter, as well as variability in defect density and surface functional groups.
Objective:
The objective the proposed project is to carry out a carefully designed parametric study of the physical and chemical factors that underlie nanofiber/tube toxicity, in which the effects of shape, size, purity, and surface chemistry are carefully isolated by special synthesis techniques developed at Brown University.
Approach:
This project focuses on model carbon nanofibers and nanotubes synthesized by non-catalytic templating routes from high-purity liquid-phase precursors. This approach allows explicit control of size and shape, and the as-produced materials are essentially free of transition metal impurities. Subsequent combinations of metal doping (spiking) and surface oxidation of these pure nanocarbons will then be carried out to assess directly the effects of metals and hydrophilicity. A panel of fibrous and tubular nanocarbons will be synthesized, post-processed, and characterized, and the following toxicologic endpoints will be determined over a range of doses:(i) phagocytosis, (ii) cell toxicity, (iii) induction of proinflammatory gene expression, and (iv) genotoxicity. These short-term toxicologic assays will establish the toxicity of these nanomaterials relative to carcinogenic asbestos fibers and nontoxic titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
Expected Results:
We hypothesize that fiber length and availability of reactive transition metals are major determinants of carbon nanofiber/tube toxicity. On the basis of our preliminary data we predict that nanomaterials doped with transition metals will be more toxic than pure carbon nanomaterials. This mechanistic study will provide guidance for the manufacturing of nanomaterials with minimal human health impact (e.g. through catalyst selection, purification, size/shape control), while maintaining desirable material properties and functions.
