Bioavailability of nickel in single-wall carbon nanotubes

A study was conducted to perform measurements of nickel (Ni) bioavailability in carbon nanotubes (CNT). It was demonstrated that despite encapsulation, toxicologically significant quantities of nickel are released from a range of single-wall carbon nanotube samples and transported across the plasma membrane into human lung epithelial cells. It was also found that the Ni release varied significantly as a function of nanotube source and processing methods. It was observed that cellular bioavailability of Ni caused a major problem for the carcinogenecity of nickel. It was also found that the ability of various nickel compounds to be taken up directly by cells influenced intracellular nickel levels and their carcinogenic activity was proportional to cellular uptake.