Candle soot derived carbon nanoparticles: Assessment of physico-chemical properties, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity

In this study, an evaluation of physico-chemical properties, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of candle soot derived carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) was carried out. Several physico-chemical characterizations including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller surface area and pore-size distribution, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy were implemented to characterize prepared CNPs. Propidium iodide uptake, reactive oxygen species assay and trypan blue exclusion and comet assay tests were executed to determine the toxicity of CNPs. It is found that the CNPs have insignificant cytotoxicity and genotoxicity and could be used in diverse biological and environmental applications as an alternative to expensive less toxic carbon materials.