Interesting Oxford Medical Journal Paper On Carbon Nano Tubes

[ladycolorado]

This is a technical medical paper so for those who do not desire to read this paper I warn you it is long with some scientific language. So you do not have to read it if this is an issue.

I came across this paper recently and I thought it interesting. Carbon nanotubes are supposed to be one of the most versatile and useful materials regarding applications to technology and medicine.

They are used to improve many things like cosmetics and sunscreen and have applications for building materials and even textiles. Almost sounds wonderful from an intellectual perspective.

Apparently they can be absorbed through pores, inhaled and are commonly released through fossil fuel emissions. It would seem like being carbon based (like us as carbon based life forms) they would be more compatible for delivering medicines to the sick where the body needs it.

It makes me think of the oyster and the pearl. An oyster has something foreign enter it so it coats it with a very hard material. Like a granuloma maybe? It is carbon based we are carbon based yet it is shaped differently could this be why?

One has to wonder however... what about the potential toxicology of these things?

This Oxford Journal paper discusses the potential toxicology of carbon nano tubes:
Pulmonary and Systemic Immune Response to Inhaled Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes -- Mitchell et al. 100 (1): 203 -- Toxicological Sciences


Anyways I found it interesting reading.

(LC)