Adolphe Merkle Institute and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Rte de l'Ancienne Papeterie, CH-1723 Marly, Switzerland.
Biomacromolecules. 2011 Oct 10;12(10):3666-73. doi: 10.1021/bm200865j. Epub 2011 Sep 6.
Cellulose nanofibers are an attractive component of a broad range of nanomaterials. Their intriguing mechanical properties and low cost, as well as the renewable nature of cellulose make them an appealing alternative to carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which may pose a considerable health risk when inhaled. Little is known, however, concerning the potential toxicity of aerosolized cellulose nanofibers. Using a 3D in vitro triple cell coculture model of the human epithelial airway barrier, it was observed that cellulose nanofibers isolated from cotton (CCN) elicited a significantly (p < 0.05) lower cytotoxicity and (pro-)inflammatory response than multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) and crocidolite asbestos fibers (CAFs). Electron tomography analysis also revealed that the intracellular localization of CCNs is different from that of both MWCNTs and CAFs, indicating fundamental differences between each different nanofibre type in their interaction with the human lung cell coculture. Thus, the data shown in the present study highlights that not only the length and stiffness determine the potential detrimental (biological) effects of any nanofiber, but that the material used can significantly affect nanofiber-cell interactions.
纤维素纳米纤维是一类具有吸引力的纳米材料组成部分。它们具有令人感兴趣的机械性能和低成本，以及纤维素的可再生性质，使它们成为碳纳米管 (CNTs) 的一种有吸引力的替代品，因为 CNTs 在吸入时可能会带来相当大的健康风险。然而，关于气溶胶化纤维素纳米纤维的潜在毒性，人们知之甚少。本研究使用人类上皮气道屏障的 3D 体外三重细胞共培养模型，观察到从棉花中分离出的纤维素纳米纤维（CCN）比多壁 CNT（MWCNT）和青石棉纤维（CAF）引起的细胞毒性和（前）炎症反应显著降低（p < 0.05）。电子断层扫描分析还表明，CCN 的细胞内定位与 MWCNT 和 CAF 的定位不同，这表明每种不同纳米纤维类型与人类肺细胞共培养物的相互作用存在根本差异。因此，本研究中的数据表明，不仅长度和刚度决定了任何纳米纤维的潜在有害（生物）影响，而且所用材料也会显著影响纳米纤维与细胞的相互作用。
