The viability of nerve cells exposed to SWCNTs used in sport equipment and the protection effect of vitamin C

To explore the viability of the nerve response model cell (mouse N2a) induced by the exposure of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). N2a cells were exposed to SWCNTs suspension at different concentrations (0, 12. 5, 25, 50 μg·ml−1) for 24 h. MTT assay was used to analyze the viability of N2a cells. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured to determine the oxidative stress. It was demonstrated that as the exposure concentration to SWNTs increased, the vitality of N2a cells decreased, ROS content increased and GSH content decreased. In existence of vitamin C (Vit C), cell damage in the experimental group treated with SWNTs of 50 μg·ml−1, the highest exposure concentration, was alleviated to the maximum extent. Results suggested that exposure to SWCNTs could induce decreased viability in N2a cells to certain extent via oxidative stress pathway. However, as antioxidant, Vit C could protect N2a cells by reducing the level of oxidative damage.