One
of the hottest topics in science lately, whether it concerns medical,
industrial, aerospace, computing or one of a bucket full of various
branches of science, is nanotechnology. Though there are any number of
nanoparticle-based inventions roaming around and endless numbers of
researchers creating new uses and machines every day, the most popular
particles are probably the buckyball and carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
Between the two pure-carbon particles, it seems like the advancement of
anything from cancer treatment to fuel cells will be possible.
Of growing concern lately, however, is how these particles might affect the human body
in the long term. CNT-based cancer treatments sound like a wonderful
idea, but what happens to all those used up CNTs and what damage might
they themselves inflict after destroying those hated cancer cells?
Several groups are proposing stricter controls for nanotechnology
and declaring the need for more research into the effects of
nanoparticles on humans. One recent study showed that CNTs of a certain
length act disturbingly like asbestos particles when they enter the lungs of laboratory rats, either by injection or inhalation.
Last week another group published results of a computer modeled study
of what interactions buckyballs, 60 atom carbon molecules shaped like a
soccer ball, might have with cells in living beings. Their data has
been published in the Advance Online Publication section of the popular
Nature Nanotechnology journal as a paper titled “Computer simulation study of fullerene translocation through lipid membranes.”
The group, from the University of Calgary, used the computing power of WestGrid
to run their simulations, which involved buckyball clusters interacting
with lipid cell membranes. Their simulations found that the molecules
were able to dissolve into the cell membrane, passing through it
without causing mechanical damage, and reform in the cell's interior.
Once inside the cell, the buckyballs could cause damage to the cells.
Peter Tieleman, one of the study's leaders, explains “buckyballs are
already being made on a commercial scale for use in coatings and
materials but we have not determined their toxicity. There are studies
showing that they can cross the blood-brain barrier and alter cell
functions, which raises a lot of questions about their toxicity and
what impact they may have if released into the environment.”
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