碳纳米管在生物医药领域的应用及其安全性

Application and Safety of Carbon Nanotubes in the Biomedicine Field

碳纳米管包括单壁碳纳米管和多壁碳纳米管,是目前最有应用前景的纳米材料之一。作为载体,其具有的独特中空结构和纳米管径,可运送生物活性分子及药物进入细胞或组织。作为一种新型生物材料,能促进骨组织修复生长、神经再生,减少神经组织瘢痕产生。然而,碳纳米管对人体也有一定的毒性作用,目前研究主要集中在肺脏毒性和细胞毒性,表现为可引起肺脏炎症、肉芽肿和细胞凋亡、活力下降、细胞周期改变等。其毒力大小与碳纳米管的特性有关,如结构、长度、表面积、制备方法、浓度、剂量等,毒性作用机制可能与氧化应激有关。

Carbon nanotubes（CNTs）, including single and multi- walled carbon nanotubes, are currently one of the most attractive nanomaterials from an applications perspective. Due to their unique hollow structure and nano- diameter, CNTs can be used as carriers to deliver bioactive molecules and drug into cells and tissues. As a new type of biomaterials, CNTs can improve bone repair and neuronal growth, decrease the development of scars in neuronal tissues. However, CNTs are potential toxic effect to the human health, and the studies have mainly focused on pulmonary toxicity and cytotoxicity, CNTs may induce pulmonary inflammation,granuloma, apoptosis,cells viability decrease and cells cycle changes. The extent of that toxicity depends on properties of the CNTs, such as their structure （single wall or multiple wall）,length,surface area,method of manufacturing,concentration and dose. The main toxicity mechanism of CNTs was possible related to the oxidative stress responses in the cells.