Acute Pulmonary Toxicity and Body Distribution of Inhaled Metallic Silver Nanoparticles.
- Author:
Jung Taek KWON
1
;
Arash MINAI-TEHRANI
;
Soon Kyung HWANG
;
Ji Eun KIM
;
Ji Young SHIN
;
Kyeong Nam YU
;
Seung Hee CHANG
;
Dae Seong KIM
;
Yong Taek KWON
;
In Ja CHOI
;
Yun Hee CHEONG
;
Jun Sung KIM
;
Myung Haing CHO
Author Information
1. Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. mchotox@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Inhalation;
Silver nanoparticles;
Pulmonary toxicity;
Distribution;
Mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MeSH:
Animals;
Blotting, Western;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage;
Inhalation;
Lung;
Mice;
Nanoparticles;
Protein Kinases;
Silver
- From:Toxicological Research
2012;28(1):25-31
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the acute pulmonary toxicity of metallic silver nanoparticles (MSNPs, 20.30 nm in diameter). Acute pulmonary toxicity and body distribution of inhaled MSNPs in mice were evaluated using a nose-only exposure chamber (NOEC) system. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis, Western blotting, histopathological changes, and silver burdens in various organs were determined in mice. Mice were exposed to MSNPs for 6 hrs. The mean concentration, total surface area, volume and mass concentrations in the NOEC were maintained at 1.93 x 10(7) particles/cm3, 1.09 x 10(10) nm2/cm3, 2.72 x 10(11) nm3/cm3, and 2854.62 microg/m3, respectively. Inhalation of MSPNs caused mild pulmonary toxicity with distribution of silver in various organs but the silver burdens decreased rapidly at 24-hrs post-exposure in the lung. Furthermore, inhaled MSNPs induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in the lung. In summary, single inhaled MSNPs caused mild pulmonary toxicity, which was associated with activated MAPK signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that the inhalation toxicity of MSNPs should be carefully considered at the molecular level.
