Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research
Research on the toxicity of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNT) was initiated by Belgian academic chemists and toxicologists more than 15 years ago. It is now undisputed that some of these attractive nanomaterials induce serious illness such as fibrosis and cancer. The physico-chemical determinants of...
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/13/4513 |
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| author | Micaela Orsi Chafik Al Hatem Riccardo Leinardi François Huaux |
| author_facet | Micaela Orsi Chafik Al Hatem Riccardo Leinardi François Huaux |
| author_sort | Micaela Orsi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on the toxicity of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNT) was initiated by Belgian academic chemists and toxicologists more than 15 years ago. It is now undisputed that some of these attractive nanomaterials induce serious illness such as fibrosis and cancer. The physico-chemical determinants of CNT-induced adverse effects are now elucidated and include shape, nanoscale diameter, and structural defects. Generated in vitro and in vivo data on their inflammogenic and fibrogenic activities were combined and translated in AOP (adverse outcome pathways) available for risk assessment and regulatory policies. The asbestos-like carcinogenic effect of CNT, notably their capacity to induce malignant mesothelioma (MM), remain, however, a cause of concern for public health and strongly curb the craze for CNT in industries. MM still represents a real challenge for clinicians and a highly refractory cancer to existing therapeutic strategies. By comparing mesotheliomagenic CNT (needle-like CNT-N) to non mesotheliomagenic CNT (tangled-like CNT-T), our group generated a relevant animal model that highlights immune pathways specifically associated to the carcinogenic process. Evidence indicates that only CNT-N possess the intrinsic capacity to induce a preferential, rapid, and sustained accumulation of host immunosuppressive cells that subvert immune surveillance and suppress anti-mesothelioma immunity. This new concept offers novel horizons for the clinical management of mesothelioma and represents an additional tool for predicting the mesotheliomagenic activity of newly elaborated CNT or nanoparticles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:48:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2369b2d7c978462db011e9da841f4655 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:48:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2369b2d7c978462db011e9da841f46552023-11-20T05:19:42ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-06-011013451310.3390/app10134513Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma ResearchMicaela Orsi0Chafik Al Hatem1Riccardo Leinardi2François Huaux3Louvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (LTAP), Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumLouvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (LTAP), Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumLouvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (LTAP), Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumLouvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (LTAP), Institut de Recherche Experimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, BelgiumResearch on the toxicity of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNT) was initiated by Belgian academic chemists and toxicologists more than 15 years ago. It is now undisputed that some of these attractive nanomaterials induce serious illness such as fibrosis and cancer. The physico-chemical determinants of CNT-induced adverse effects are now elucidated and include shape, nanoscale diameter, and structural defects. Generated in vitro and in vivo data on their inflammogenic and fibrogenic activities were combined and translated in AOP (adverse outcome pathways) available for risk assessment and regulatory policies. The asbestos-like carcinogenic effect of CNT, notably their capacity to induce malignant mesothelioma (MM), remain, however, a cause of concern for public health and strongly curb the craze for CNT in industries. MM still represents a real challenge for clinicians and a highly refractory cancer to existing therapeutic strategies. By comparing mesotheliomagenic CNT (needle-like CNT-N) to non mesotheliomagenic CNT (tangled-like CNT-T), our group generated a relevant animal model that highlights immune pathways specifically associated to the carcinogenic process. Evidence indicates that only CNT-N possess the intrinsic capacity to induce a preferential, rapid, and sustained accumulation of host immunosuppressive cells that subvert immune surveillance and suppress anti-mesothelioma immunity. This new concept offers novel horizons for the clinical management of mesothelioma and represents an additional tool for predicting the mesotheliomagenic activity of newly elaborated CNT or nanoparticles.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/13/4513inflammationimmunosuppressioncancermesotheliomacarbon nanotubesasbestos |
| spellingShingle | Micaela Orsi Chafik Al Hatem Riccardo Leinardi François Huaux Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research Applied Sciences inflammation immunosuppression cancer mesothelioma carbon nanotubes asbestos |
| title | Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research |
| title_full | Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research |
| title_fullStr | Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research |
| title_short | Carbon Nanotubes under Scrutiny: Their Toxicity and Utility in Mesothelioma Research |
| title_sort | carbon nanotubes under scrutiny their toxicity and utility in mesothelioma research |
| topic | inflammation immunosuppression cancer mesothelioma carbon nanotubes asbestos |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/13/4513 |
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