Human exposure to carbon nanotube (CNT) contamination via occupational or environmental means may induce a robust inflammatory response and severe oxidative stress that results in tissue damage. This impairment may be mitigated through the biodegradation of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (o-SWCNTs) catalyzed by peroxidase enzymes. The physiologically relevant enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), which is expressed by human inflammatory cells, biodegrades o-SWCNTs both in vitro and in vivo. By relating enzymatic oxidation to redox potentials through studying the effect of competitive substrates (i.e. chloride and antioxidants), we endeavored to clarify the ambiguous mechanism of MPO-catalyzed biodegradation. Utilizing multiple analytical techniques, we demonstrated that the addition of an antioxidant significantly mitigates MPO-catalyzed biodegradation of o-SWCNTs. Because antioxidant supplementation may attenuate oxidative stress-associated tissue damage post CNT exposure, these results establish that the choice of protective antioxidants for regulating CNT-induced oxidative stress should be selective and include testing for neutrality towards CNT biodegradation.

Effect of antioxidants on enzyme-catalyzed biodegradation of carbon nanotubes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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