I am working on mesoporous carbon shell (diameter around 200 nm) encapsulated nanoparticles to be used as contrast agent in human body. There are a lot of reported articles on the toxicity of certain carbon based materials (especially carbon nanotubes). Does anyone have any clue whether mesoporous carbon shell is toxic to human body or not?
Generally, if you consume activated carbon in your food chain, it adsorbs toxic, acidic materials up to certain extent. It is proved in literature reviews. But if it administered in to human body by means of injection, or contrast agent in nano form, it may affect the system because our anatomy and our body functions antibody to this foreign element and affect our system as a whole. But we can use activated carbon as amorphous, nano form as absorbent materials even in dialysis membranes. But I am not sure with these ideas.
You must read the msds (Material safety data sheet) for the desired material.You can get it from www.msds.com
the toxicity depends on size. Furthermore there are reports regarding generation of uraemic toxins in the presence of carbon nanotubes
As you mentioned carbon nanotubes are toxic mainly it has sharp edges, which responsible for damaging cell membrane during the delivery process. Graphene has the same problem. But if you can make spherical carbon particles loaded with metal species would be better candidate for contrasting agents. Unlike in nanotube and graphens, spherical carbons do not possessed any sharp edges. But, still you need to check the leaching of metal ions through the spherical carbon walls in cellular condition to use them as contrasting agents.
Also, it is not necessary to have mesoporous carbon wall, which mainly used for transporting water molecules to the metal species. Microporous carbon wall can do the same job. Mesoporous structures are more useful for drug delivery applications.
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