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. 2022 Dec 8;17:6157–6180. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S384592

Table 4.

Local and Systemic Toxicity of CNTs in vitro and in vivo

S. No Type of CNTs, Dimensions and Dose Route of Administration Cell Line or Animal Model Effects or Outcomes Ref.
1. MWCNTs, lengths of 3.86 μm and diameters of 49 ±13.4 nm, 1.2 μg/mL – Co-cultured SAEC and HMVECs

  1. Increase in ROS levels, angiogenesis and loss in actin arrangement

  2. Increase in inflammatory mediators such as VEGFA, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and phospho-NF-κB, phospho-Stat3, and phospho-p38 MAPK

 [64]
2. MWCNTs, lengths of 1.12 μm and diameters of 65 to 70 nm Pharyngeal aspiration 44 μg/mL in vitro BEAS-2B cells and 50 μL in vivo in C57BL/6 mice

  1. Decreased expressions of E-cad and β-catenin and increased expressions vimentin and α-SMA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β (in vitro)

  2. Lung fibrosis elicited by a decline in E-cad levels and an elevation in vimentin levels (in vivo)

 [65]
3. MWCNTs, 20 to 50 μm Non-surgical intratracheal instillation 30 µg/mL in vitro NIH 3T3 cells, 0.6 mg/ hypertensive rat in vivo

  1. Elevation of FSP-1, α-SMA, collagen III and fibronectin levels, diminished E-cad levels. Engagement of the TGF-β/Smad2 pathway (in vitro)

  2. Fibrosis, deposition of collagen and formation of granuloma in vivo

 [66,67]
4. MWCNTs, lengths of 5 to 13 μm and diameters of 30 to 100 nm Pharyngeal aspiration 1 mg/mL per 20 gm body weight of female C57Bl6/J mice Upregulated expressions of MCP-1, MMP-8 and TIMP-1, changes in serum markers, hyperplasia and formation of granulomas [70]
5. SWCNTs, 40–80 μg/mouse Pharyngeal aspiration Female C57BL/6 mice

  1. Increased recruitment of neutrophils, elevated levels of LDH and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6

  2. Granulomatous bronchointerstitial pneumonia, collagen deposition and pulmonary fibrosis

 [71]
6. SWCNTs, 0.6 mg/rat Non-surgical intratracheal instillation Male spontaneously hypertensive rats

  1. Increases in myeloperoxidase and the volumes of inflammatory cells such as PMNs, macrophages and lymphocytes.

  2. Elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MIP-2, IL-6 and TNF-α and decrease in anti-inflammatory CC16 levels

  3. Changes in oxidative stress and liver function markers

  4. Increases in Endothelin-1 and angiotensin-converting enzyme indicating cardiac injury and subsequent damages to heart, brain and kidney

 [72]
7. SWCNTs, diameters of 1.2 to 1.5 nm and lengths of 2 to 5 µm, 0.16, 1.6 and 6.4 mg/kg Intravenously into tail vein MITO-Luc and CD1 mice

  1. Cholestasis and elevation of liver parameters

  2. Increases in CD45+ and CD68+ cells

 [73]