TY - JOUR

T1 - Pulmonary toxicity and translocation of gallium phosphide nanowires to secondary organs following pulmonary exposure in mice

AU - Berthing, Trine

AU - Lard, Mercy

AU - Danielsen, Pernille H.

AU - Abariute, Laura

AU - Barfod, Kenneth K.

AU - Adolfsson, Karl

AU - Knudsen, Kristina B.

AU - Wolff, Henrik

AU - Prinz, Christelle N.

AU - Vogel, Ulla

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - 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.]

AB - 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.]

KW - Biodistribution

KW - High aspect ratio nanomaterial (HARN)

KW - Inflammation

KW - Nanowires

KW - Pulmonary exposure

U2 - 10.1186/s12951-023-02049-0

DO - 10.1186/s12951-023-02049-0

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37679803

AN - SCOPUS:85170178738

VL - 21

JO - Journal of Nanobiotechnology

JF - Journal of Nanobiotechnology

SN - 1477-3155

M1 - 322

ER -