Biocompatible polymer-assisted dispersion of multi walled carbon nanotubes in water, application to the investigation of their ecotoxicity using Xenopus laevis amphibian larvae

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) tend to readily agglomerate and settle down in water, while the adsorption of compounds present in natural aquatic media could enhance their dispersion and stabilization in the water column. We designed a new exposure protocol to compare the biological responses of Xenopus laevis larvae exposed in semi-static conditions to size-reduced agglomerates of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in suspension in the water column and/or to larger agglomerates. Suspensions were prepared using a combination of a non-covalent functionalization with a non-toxic polymer (either carboxymethylcellulose, CMC, or gum arabic, GA) and mechanical dispersion methods (mainly ultrasonication). The ingestion of agglomerates which have settled down was incriminated in the disruption of the intestinal transit and the assimilation of nutrients, leading to acute and chronic toxicities at the highest tested concentrations. Rise in mortality, decrease in the growth rate and induction of genotoxicity from low concentrations (1mg/L in the presence of CMC) were evidenced in presence of suspended MWCNTs in the water column. The biological responses seemed to be modulated when GA, a potential antioxidant, was used. We hypothesized that MWCNTs should interfere mainly at the surface of the gills, acting as a potential respiratory toxicant and generally inducing indirect effects.