Surface modification of Carbon Black nanoparticles determine their cytotoxicity on mouse tracheal epithelial cells

Inhaled nanoparticles can deposit on the airway epithelium and affect the epithelial cells. We are interested in how the effects of nanoparticles on the airway epithelium are changed after surface modification regarding impairment of mucociliary clearance and epithelial cytotoxicity. We tested the following Carbon Black nanoparticles (CBNP) with similar hydrodynamic diameter: unmodified Printex®90 (CBNP/-), surface-modified Printex®90 with 9-nitroanthracene (CBNP/Na) or benzo[a]pyrene (CBNP/BaP) and an acetylene soot (A. soot). After incubation of mouse tracheae with 10 or 30 µg/ml CBNP for 24h, their effect on…