Ageing remarkably alters the toxicity of carbon black particles towards susceptible cells: determined by differential changes of surface oxygen groups

Abstract

We uncover that O₃-induced ageing dynamically alters the surface O-functionalities of carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, a model of airborne particles. The consequent distinct bioreactivity and toxicity towards susceptible cells under low-dose exposure are largely attributed to the variant species of O-functionalities, thereby signifying the importance of the environmental ageing process in changing CB toxicity features.