Organ biodistribution, clearance, and genotoxicity of orally administered zinc oxide nanoparticles in mice

• Published in: Nanotoxicology Vol. 6; no. 7; pp. 746 - 756
• Main Authors: Li, Ching-Hao, Shen, Chuan-Chou, Cheng, Yu-Wen, Huang, Shih-Hsuan, Wu, Chung-Che, Kao, Chen-Chieh, Liao, Jiunn-Wang, Kang, Jaw-Jou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK, Ltd 01.11.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Absorption; Administration, Oral; Analysis of Variance; Animals; biodistribution; Cell Survival - drug effects; clearance; Cytotoxicity; Female; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - cytology; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Kidney - chemistry; Kidney - metabolism; Liver - chemistry; Liver - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Micronucleus Tests; nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Nanoparticles - toxicity; Particle Size; Solubility; Spleen - chemistry; Spleen - metabolism; Superoxides - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Zinc oxide; Zinc Oxide - administration & dosage; Zinc Oxide - pharmacokinetics; Zinc Oxide - toxicity
• ISSN: 1743-5390; 1743-5404; 1743-5404
• DOI: 10.3109/17435390.2011.620717

Abstract Understanding tissue biodistribution and clearance of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is necessary for its risk assessment. Both fed and intraperitoneally injected ZnO-NPs (2.5 g/kg) were absorbed into circulation (within 30 min post-dosing), then biodistributed to the liver, spleen, and kidney. Intraperitoneally injected ZnO-NPs remained in serum for 72 h and could more effectively spread to the heart, lung, and testes, whereas the clearance for fed ZnO-NPs in serum began 6 h after oral administration. Compared with zinc oxide microparticles (ZnO-MPs), ZnO-NPs exhibited much higher absorptivity and tissue biodistribution in fed treatment. A greater fraction of fed ZnO-NPs localised in the liver resulted in transient histopathological lesions. However, superoxide generation and cytotoxicity were showed in vitro treatment with ZnO-NPs (above 20 μg/mL). Considering both in vitro and in vivo data, the ZnO-NPs induced acute liver toxicity which was in compliance with its absorption, biodistribution, and clearance.