Effect of Carbon Coating on the Physico‐chemical Properties and Toxicity of Copper and Nickel Nanoparticles

The primary aim of these interdisciplinary studies is to investigate the effect of surface carbon coating on the physico-chemical properties and toxicity of carbon-coated and noncoated copper and nickel nanoparticles (C-Cu, Cu, C-Ni, Ni NPs) in A549 alveolar epithelial cells. Compared to Cu NPs, C-Cu NPs exhibit protection against surface oxidation, tenfold higher cellular uptake, and fourfold lower release of soluble Cu. The toxicity of C-Cu NPs and Cu NPs is associated with pronounced damage to mitochondrial function and plasma membrane integrity, respectively. Compared to Cu and C-Cu NPs, Ni and C-Ni NPs are less toxic. These studies demonstrate that correlations can be drawn between physico-chemical properties and resultant toxicity of NPs as a function of surface carbon coating.