title: The reactions of l nm particles of plutonium-238 dioxide and curium-244 dioxide with lung fluid.
abstract: The reactions of 1 nm particles of plutonium-238 dioxide and curium-244 dioxide with rat lung fluid have been studied both in vitro and in vivo. The plutonium-238 particles are positively charged and combine by electrostatic attraction with the negative pulmonary surfactant which mediates the transfer of radioactivity to the blood. In contrast the curium-244 particles are negative and are assumed to diffuse passively through the alveolar walls. The results emphasise that electrostatic charge is an important factor governing the reaction of 1 nm actinide oxide particles with macromolecules.
mesh_terms: D008671:Actinoid Series Elements / Q000378:metabolism; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003476:Curium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004058:Diffusion; D004560:Electricity; D004588:Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010316:Particle Size; D011005:Plutonium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008671:Actinoid Series Elements; D000336:Aerosols; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C026884:curium oxide; C026885:plutonium dioxide; D011005:Plutonium; D003476:Curium