Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathogenicity in a pilot study
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes have distinctive characteristics, but their needle-like fibre shape has been compared to asbestos, raising concerns that widespread use of carbon nanotubes may lead to mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Here we show that exposing the mesothelial lining of the body cavity of mice, as a surrogate for the mesothelial lining of the chest cavity, to long multiwalled carbon nanotubes results in asbestos-like, length-dependent, pathogenic behaviour. This includes inflammation and the formation of lesions known as granulomas. This is of considerable importance, because research and business communities continue to invest heavily in carbon nanotubes for a wide range of products under the assumption that they are no more hazardous than graphite. Our results suggest the need for further research and great caution before introducing such products into the market if long-term harm is to be avoided.
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One reason for reduced CNT toxicity is that many CNT materials were tested in agglomerate state, and such granular agglomerates are not expected to show fibre-specific toxicity.
“One reason for reduced CNT toxicity was attributed to the fact that many CNT materials were toxicologically tested in agglomerate state as CNTs can already be synthesized as highly entangled agglomerates, can spontaneously re-agglomerate after dispersion, or, if thin and flexible, can self-tangle into granules. Such granular agglomerates are not expected to show fibre-specific toxicity.”
From Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis (2026) · cites this paper as [17]
Carbon nanotubes were found not to be consistently toxic despite the fibre-pathogenicity paradigm's prediction.
“However, a specific class of nanoscale materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), was found not to be consistently toxic despite the fibre-pathogenicity paradigm’s prediction [17, 18].”
From Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis (2026) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Poland, C. A., Duffin, R., Kinloch, I., Maynard, A., Wallace, W. A. H., Seaton, A., Stone, V., Brown, S., MacNee, W., & Donaldson, K.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Inflammation Research (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (US)
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (GB)
- Edinburgh Napier University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Donaldson, Ken
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Nanotechnology
- Published
- 2008-05-20
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 423-428
- ISSN
- 1748-3387 (ISSN-L)
- 1748-3395
- OpenAlex
- W2138003976
- Cited by
- 2,645
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 61 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 118 · 2018: 143 · 2017: 134 · 2016: 159 · 2015: 196 · 2014: 199 · 2013: 214 · 2012: 281
- FWCI
- 219.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Nanotechnology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Mitsui and Company
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Keywords
- carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, mesothelioma, abdominal cavity, granuloma, inflammation, nanoparticle toxicity, nanomaterial safety
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Asbestos, Asbestosis, Female, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Pilot Projects, Abdominal Cavity, Nanotubes, Carbon, Mice
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