Nucleoplasmic bridges in alveolar cells induced by nanomaterial exposure

Introduction: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are widely used engineered nanomaterials in industrial and biomedical applications. Yet, MWCNT inhalation, particularly in the occupational settings, may induce pulmonary adverse effects as acute or persistent pulmonary inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, granuloma, and bronchiolar or bronchioloalveolar hyperplasia, and the MWCNT-7 (Mitsui-7) has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In this work, we analyse the in vitro genotoxicity of MWCNT-7 using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay to evaluates the ability of MWCNT-7 to affect the viability of alveolar epithelial cells (necrosis, apoptosis), its mitotic status (mononucleated, binucleated, multinucleated) and its chromosomal damage or instability status (presence of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds).Foundation for Science and Technology, Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health ToxOmics under grant UID/BIM/00009/2013 and by ToxApp 4 NanoCELFI (PTDC/SAU PUB/32587 2017.