Article: Genotoxicity assays analysis for carbon nanotubes: friends or foes? Preliminary results on human peripheral leukocytes Journal: International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH) 2009 Vol.3 No.3 pp.275 - 284 Abstract: The literature is full of information on the biological effects, both in vitro and in vivo, of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and almost all the data published are in agreement on the toxicity related to physicochemical properties. The gap in the knowledge of the effects of CNTs on biological systems is instead evident when approaching the damage induced to DNA by CNTs. In fact, genotoxicity data is still missing. Is this due to a lack of interest in this field of research or it is triggered by the fact that standard procedures for genotoxicity assays are still to come for CNTs? Actually, the second question seems to be the more appropriate, but also for science, |in media stat virtus| remains valid. This brief review, including some preliminary results on human peripheral leukocytes, will try to highlight this problem as seen from the genotoxicological point of view. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Genotoxicity assays analysis for carbon nanotubes: friends or foes? Preliminary results on human peripheral leukocytes

Authors: Renato Colognato, Jessica Ponti, Maria Rita D'Errico, Lucia Migliore, Francois Rossi

Addresses: European Commission JRC-IHCP, TP 203, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy. ' European Commission JRC-IHCP, TP 203, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy. ' Faculty of Medicine, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, Via San Giuseppe 22, 56126 Pisa, Italy. ' Faculty of Medicine, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, Via San Giuseppe 22, 56126 Pisa, Italy. ' European Commission JRC-IHCP, TP 203, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra (VA), Italy

Abstract: The literature is full of information on the biological effects, both in vitro and in vivo, of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and almost all the data published are in agreement on the toxicity related to physicochemical properties. The gap in the knowledge of the effects of CNTs on biological systems is instead evident when approaching the damage induced to DNA by CNTs. In fact, genotoxicity data is still missing. Is this due to a lack of interest in this field of research or it is triggered by the fact that standard procedures for genotoxicity assays are still to come for CNTs? Actually, the second question seems to be the more appropriate, but also for science, |in media stat virtus| remains valid. This brief review, including some preliminary results on human peripheral leukocytes, will try to highlight this problem as seen from the genotoxicological point of view.

Keywords: carbon nanotubes; CNT; nanoparticles; genotoxicity; comet assays; micronucleus; human lymphocytes; nanotechnology; environmental health; occupational health; health hazards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2009.028593

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2009 Vol.3 No.3, pp.275 - 284

Published online: 19 Sep 2009 *

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Title: Genotoxicity assays analysis for carbon nanotubes: friends or foes? Preliminary results on human peripheral leukocytes

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