Biodistribution and toxicological study of PEGylated single-wall carbon nanotubes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) nervous system
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900 (Brazil)
- Laboratório de Química de Nanoestruturas, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901 (Brazil)
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Física, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901 (Brazil)
- Instituto de Oceanografía, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-030 (Brazil)
Nanotechnology has been proven to be increasingly compatible with pharmacological and biomedical applications. Therefore, we evaluated the biological interactions of single-wall carbon nanotubes functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWNT-PEG). For this purpose, we analyzed biochemical, histological, behavioral and biodistribution parameters to understand how this material behaves in vitro and in vivo using the fish Danio rerio (zebrafish) as a biological model. The in vitro results for fish brain homogenates indicated that SWNT-PEG had an effect on lipid peroxidation and GSH (reduced glutathione) content. However, after intraperitoneal exposure, SWNT-PEG proved to be less biocompatible and formed aggregates, suggesting that the PEG used for the nanoparticle functionalization was of an inappropriate size for maintaining product stability in a biological environment. This problem with functionalization may have contributed to the low or practically absent biodistribution of SWNT-PEG in zebrafish tissues, as verified by Raman spectroscopy. There was an accumulation of material in the abdominal cavity that led to inflammation and behavioral disturbances, as evaluated by a histological analysis and an open field test, respectively. These results provide evidence of a lack of biocompatibility of SWNTs modified with short chain PEGs, which leads to the accumulation of the material, tissue damage and behavioral alterations in the tested subjects. - Highlights: • In vitro brain exposure diminished lipid peroxidation. • In vitro brain exposure depletes the GSH content. • SWNT-PEG was not biocompatible and formed aggregates after the exposure. • Practically absent biodistribution of SWNT-PEG was observed by Raman spectroscopy. • SWNT-PEG exposure lead to tissue damage and inflammatory responses.
- OSTI ID:
- 22439895
- Journal Information:
- Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 280, Issue 3; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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