Zhu Ying, Zhao Qunfen, Li Yuguo, Cai Xiaoqing, Li Wenxin
Laboratory of Nano-Biology and Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201800, P. R. China.
J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2006 May;6(5):1357-64. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2006.194.
The interaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with living unicellular protozoan Stylonychia mytilus was studied. The results indicated that MWNTs were ingested largely by Stylonychia mytilus. Distribution of MWNTs in the cells, redistribution during dividing process of the cells, and excretion from the cells were observed successfully with optical microscope. The dependence of viability of Stylonychia mytilus was determined on the concentration of MWNTs, ranging from 0.1 microg/ml to 200 microg/ml. It was found that exposure of Stylonychia mytilus to the MWNTs with concentration higher than 1.0 microg/ml induced a dose-dependent growth inhibition to the cells and the damage occurred, by fluorescence microscopy, on the macronucleus and external membrane of the cells. The ultrastructure change by electron microscope revealed that the MWNTs exclusively localized to the mitochondria of the cells. It was proposed that the damage of macronucleus, micronucleus, and membrane of the cells, as well as growth inhibition of the cells might be a result of the damage of mitochondria, following this exclusive localization. Our finding provides important information on the bio-security of MWNTs and their migration in aqueous environment.
研究了多壁碳纳米管（MWNTs）与活的单细胞原生动物贻贝棘尾虫之间的相互作用。结果表明，贻贝棘尾虫大量摄取了MWNTs。利用光学显微镜成功观察到MWNTs在细胞内的分布、细胞分裂过程中的重新分布以及从细胞中的排泄情况。测定了贻贝棘尾虫的活力对MWNTs浓度的依赖性，浓度范围为0.1微克/毫升至200微克/毫升。发现将贻贝棘尾虫暴露于浓度高于1.0微克/毫升的MWNTs会对细胞产生剂量依赖性的生长抑制，并且通过荧光显微镜观察到细胞的大核和外膜出现损伤。电子显微镜下的超微结构变化显示，MWNTs仅定位于细胞的线粒体中。有人提出，细胞的大核、小核和膜的损伤以及细胞的生长抑制可能是由于MWNTs仅定位于线粒体后线粒体受损所致。我们的发现为MWNTs的生物安全性及其在水环境中的迁移提供了重要信息。
