Toxicological Aspects of Carbon Nanotubes, Fullerenes and Graphenes.

Toxicological Aspects of Carbon Nanotubes, Fullerenes and Graphenes. Curr Pharm Des. 2020 Sep 16;: Authors: Shah P, Lalan M, Jani D Abstract Nanomedicines exhibit unbelievable capability in overcoming the hurdles faced in biological applications. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene-family nanomaterials and fullerenes are a class of engineered nanoparticles that have emerged as a new option for possible use in drug/gene delivery for life-threatening diseases. Their adaptability to pharmaceutical applications have opened new vistas for biomedical applications. Successful applications of this family of engineered nanoparticles in various fields may not support its use in medicine due to inconsistent data on toxicity as well as the lack of a centralized toxicity database. Inconsistent toxicological studies and lack of mechanistic understanding have been the reasons for less understanding of their toxicological aspects. These nanoparticles when underivatized or pristine are considered as safe however less reactive. The derivatized forms or functionalization changes their chemistry significantly to modify their biological effects including toxicity. They can cause acute and long term injuries in tissues by penetration through the blood-air barrier, blood-alveolus barrier, blood-brain barrier, and blood-placenta barrier etc. and by accumulating in the lung, liver, and spleen etc. The toxicological effects are manifested through inflammatory r...
Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Curr Pharm Des Source Type: research