Biodistribution and Systemic Effects in Mice Following Intravenous Administration of Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dot Nanoparticles
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2019-06-28
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Nguyen, Kathy C.
- Zhang, Yan
- Todd, Julie
- Kittle, Kevin
- Patry, Dominique
- Caldwell, Don
- Lalande, Michelle
- Smith, Scott
- Parks, Douglas
- Navarro, Martha
- Massarsky, Andrey
- Moon, Thomas W.
- Willmore, William G.
- Tayabali, Azam F.
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are engineered nanoparticles (NPs) of semiconductor structure that possess unique optical and electronic properties and are widely used in biomedical applications; however, their risks are not entirely understood. This study investigated the tissue distribution and toxic effects of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) in male BALB/c mice for up to 1 week after single-dose intravenous injections. CdTe-QDs were detected in the blood, lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, testis and brain. Most CdTe-QDs accumulated in the liver, followed by the spleen and kidney. At high doses, exposure to CdTe-QDs resulted in mild dehydration, lethargy, ruffled fur, hunched posture, and body weight loss. Histological analysis of the tissues, upon highest dose exposures, revealed hepatic hemorrhage and necrotic areas in the spleen. The sera of mice treated with high doses of CdTe-QDs showed significant increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin levels, as well as a reduction in albumin. CdTe-QD exposure also led to a reduced number of platelets and elevated total white blood cell counts, including monocytes and neutrophils, serum amyloid A, and several pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results demonstrated that the liver is the main target of CdTe-QDs and that exposure to CdTe-QDs leads to hepatic and splenic injury, as well as systemic effects, in mice. By contrast, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), at an equivalent concentration of cadmium, appeared to have a different pharmacokinetic pattern from that of CdTe-QDs, having minimal effects on the aforementioned parameters, suggesting that cadmium alone cannot fully explain the toxicity of CdTe-QDs.
Plain language summary
Health Canada is responsible for assessing the health risks of the products of nanotechnology, and this study was conducted to better understand the health effects of nanomaterials (NMs). This study focused on one type of NMs, cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs), which possess unique properties that make them useful materials in electronics and biomedical applications, including medical imaging. NMs consist of particle sizes on the order of a billionth of a meter. This small size gives them novel properties, and as such NMs have been widely used in biotechnology applications and consumer products. Growing production and use of NMs result in increasing numbers of workers and consumers exposed to these materials. Therefore, the need for further information to support the hazard assessment and risk characterization of NMs has become evident. The objectives of this study were to investigate where NM accumulate in the body and their toxic effects in mice. The results showed that the liver is the main target of CdTe-QDs and exposure to CdTe-QDs leads to liver damage and other effects in mice. This study generated relevant toxicological data and methodologies that will be helpful in the risk assessment of NMs conducted at Health Canada. This study was conducted in collaboration with scientists at Carleton University.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety