High aspect ratio (AR) nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes can induce toxicity by acting as fiber-like substances that damage the lysosome. However it is not clear what the critical lengths and ARs are that induce this type of toxicity. To answer this question, we synthesized a series of ceria nanorods and nanowires with precisely controlled lengths and finely tuned ARs varying from 1 to ~150. The successful creation of a comprehensive ceria nanorod/nanowire combinatorial library allows, for the first time, the systematic study of AR effect on lysosomal damage, cytoxicity and IL-1b production in THP-1 cell line. The in vitro toxicity study demonstrated that at lengths =200 nm and ARs =22, ceria nanorods induced progressive cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory responses. The relatively low �critical� length and AR identified here suggest that thin nanorods/nanowires may induce inflammasome activation at much shorter lengths and lower ARs than traditionally described for fiber-like substances.

Thin nanorods and nanowires induce inflammasome activation at lower aspect ratios

244th National Meeting (2012)

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