Single-walled carbon nanotube-induced mitotic disruption

► Single-walled carbon nanotubes induce fragmented centrosomes, disrupted mitotic spindles and aneuploid chromosome number at doses possible in the workplace. ► Single-walled carbon nanotubes induce multipolar mitotic spindles. ► The increased multipolar mitotic spindles were associated with an increased number of cells in the G2 phase of mitosis, indicating a mitotic checkpoint response. ► Nanotubes were observed in association with mitotic spindle microtubules, the centrosomes and condensed chromatin. ► Colony formation assays showed an increased proliferation seven days after exposure.