预计在不久的将来，III-V半导体纳米线将被整合到光电子器件中。然而，这些纳米线的大规模生产前景引发了人类安全性的关注，因为它们具有石棉和碳纳米管等特性，包括其高纵横比。事实上，III-V纳米线与三井7型多壁碳纳米管具有类似的尺寸，这些碳纳米管通过吸入对大鼠产生肺癌。因此，在将它们用于工业生产之前，迫切需要调查肺暴露于III-V纳米线后的毒理效应，这涉及到人类的暴露风险。本研究使用雌性C57BL/6J小鼠，通过气管内滴注给予镓磷化物（III-V）纳米线（直径为99纳米，长度为3.7微米）2、6和18微克（体重1.2、3.5和11毫克/千克）剂量，并在暴露后1、3、28天和3个月进行毒性研究。将三井7型多壁碳纳米管和碳黑Printex 90纳米颗粒用作基准纳米材料。镓磷化物纳米线在支气管肺泡灌洗细胞中引发遗传毒性和急性炎症，同时在支气管肺泡灌洗和肺组织中可观察到嗜酸性粒细胞增多（暴露后1天和3天）。炎症反应与暴露于相似剂量三井7型多壁碳纳米管后的反应相似。纳米线在肺部部分溶解，变得更加细小，估计体内半衰期为3个月。尽管部分溶解，纳米线在暴露后3个月仍能在肺、肝、脾、肾、子宫和大脑中被检测到。镓磷化物纳米线的肺暴露引起的毒理效应与多壁碳纳米管三井7型类似。© 2023 BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.

III-V semiconductor nanowires are envisioned as being integrated in optoelectronic devices in the near future. However, the perspective of mass production of these nanowires raises concern for human safety due to their asbestos- and carbon nanotube-like properties, including their high aspect ratio shape. Indeed, III-V nanowires have similar dimensions as Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes, which induce lung cancer by inhalation in rats. It is therefore urgent to investigate the toxicological effects following lung exposure to III-V nanowires prior to their use in industrial production, which entails risk of human exposure. Here, female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 2, 6, and 18 µg (0.12, 0.35 and 1.1 mg/kg bw) of gallium phosphide (III-V) nanowires (99 nm diameter, 3.7 μm length) by intratracheal instillation and the toxicity was investigated 1, 3, 28 days and 3 months after exposure. Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes and carbon black Printex 90 nanoparticles were used as benchmark nanomaterials.Gallium phosphide nanowires induced genotoxicity in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and acute inflammation with eosinophilia observable both in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue (1 and 3 days post-exposure). The inflammatory response was comparable to the response following exposure to Mitsui-7 multi-walled carbon nanotubes at similar dose levels. The nanowires underwent partial dissolution in the lung resulting in thinner nanowires, with an estimated in vivo half-life of 3 months. Despite the partial dissolution, nanowires were detected in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, uterus and brain 3 months after exposure.Pulmonary exposure to gallium phosphide nanowires caused similar toxicological effects as the multi-walled carbon nanotube Mitsui-7.© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.