Study of the Influence of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Functionalised with Nickel Ions on the Functioning of Red Blood Cells

S. Strzeleca, A. Siniarskib, c, J. Kiecanab, c, G. Gajosb, c, J. Koreckid, K. Burdaa aAGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland bJagiellonian University, Medical College, Pradnicka 80, 31-202 Kraków, Poland cThe John Paul II Hospital, Pradnicka 80, 31-202 Kraków, Poland dJerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 30-239 Kraków, Poland

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Functionalised carbon nanotubes are a group of nanomaterials with many potential applications in bionanomedicine. However, they can also be toxic, especially those functionalised with metal ions. Carbon nanotubes enter cells easily. The research focused on investigating the acute effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with attached Ni2+ ions (MWCNTs-Ni) on the functioning of red blood cells. The very low concentration of MWCNTs-Ni used did not cause changes in the size and shape of red blood cells, but it did affect the states of haemoglobin and its ability to reversibly bind oxygen. MWCNTs-Ni-treated red blood cells showed an increased affinity for O2, similar to that observed in red blood cells from essential hypertensive subjects. The results indicate a potential risk that MWCNTs-Ni may influence the development of hypertension.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.147.31 topics: multi-walled carbon nanotubes, erythrocytes, Mössbauer spectroscopy, haemoglobin