CYTOTOXICITY EVALUATION OF CARBON NANOMATERIALS ON HUMAN CELL LINES USING MTT ASSAY

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the in vitro toxicity of three carbon nano particles on five different cell lines. Methods: Human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells, hepatocytes (Hep G2 cells), human embryonic kidney cells, HCT 116, and intestinal (P407 cells) cells were exposed to multi walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nano fibres and carbon nano rods. The adverse effects of carbon nano particles were analyzed after 48 h incubation with different cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay method. Results: Incubation of carbon nano particles with different cells produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of growth of the cells. The TC 50 values (toxic concentration 50, i. e., concentration of particles inducing 50% cell mortality) of three nano particles was found to be in the range 28.29–46.35 µg/mL, and less than that of quartz (known toxic agent, 30.24-54.95 µg/mL). Conclusion: The results indicating the greater cytotoxic effect of carbon nano particles than quartz particles.