Embryotoxicity of the Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the Three-dimensional Culture of ES-D3 cells

Abstract

To examine the embryotoxicity of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the effects of three-dimensional culture with a collagen gel scaffold containing MWCNTs on the differentiation level of ES-D3 cells were examined and compared with those of conventional two-dimensional culture.In the present study, the rate of contraction of the pulsating myocardial cells decreased as the MWCNTs concentration increased, with no contraction observed at >25 μg. The contraction of the pulsating myocardial cells in teratomas showed uniform and rhythmic movements in the control group and non-uniform and non-rhythmic movements in the 2.5-10-μg groups.Thus, the non-rhythmic contraction of the pulsating myocardial cells, and not the rate of contraction determined by the EST method, may serve as a novel cell differentiation indicator.