Toxicology Study of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Reduced Graphene Oxide in Human Sperm

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 19:6:30270. doi: 10.1038/srep30270.

Abstract

Carbon-based nanomaterials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide are currently being evaluated for biomedical applications including in vivo drug delivery and tumor imaging. Several reports have studied the toxicity of carbon nanomaterials, but their effects on human male reproduction have not been fully examined. Additionally, it is not clear whether the nanomaterial exposure has any effect on sperm sorting procedures used in clinical settings. Here, we show that the presence of functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT-COOH) and reduced graphene oxide at concentrations of 1-25 μg/mL do not affect sperm viability. However, SWCNT-COOH generate significant reactive superoxide species at a higher concentration (25 μg/mL), while reduced graphene oxide does not initiate reactive species in human sperm. Further, we demonstrate that exposure to these nanomaterials does not hinder the sperm sorting process, and microfluidic sorting systems can select the sperm that show low oxidative stress post-exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Specimen Banks
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cryopreservation*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Graphite / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / toxicity*
  • Nitric Oxide / agonists
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxides
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism
  • Superoxides / agonists*
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Oxides
  • Superoxides
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Graphite