Assessment of penetration of quantum dots through in vitro and in vivo human skin using the human skin equivalent model and the tape stripping method.
Quantum dots (QDs) are rapidly emerging as an important class of nanoparticles (NPs) with potential applications in medicine. However, little is known about penetration of QDs through human skin. This study investigated skin penetration of QDs in both in vivo and in vitro human skin. Using the tape stripping method, this study demonstrates for the first time that QDs can actually penetrate through the stratum corneum (SC) of human skin. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy diverse X-ray (EDX) analysis showed accumulation of QDs in the SC of a human skin equivalent model (HSEM) after dermal exposure to QDs. These findings suggest possible transdermal absorption of QDs after dermal exposure over a relatively long period of time.
Jeong
Sang Hoon
SH
Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Nanomedicine, Department of Dermatology and Division of Brain Korea 21 Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Kim
Jae Hwan
JH
Yi
Sang Min
SM
Lee
Jung Pyo
JP
Kim
Jin Ho
JH
Sohn
Kyung Hee
KH
Park
Kui Lea
KL
Kim
Meyoung-Kon
MK
Son
Sang Wook
SW
D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008954:Models, Biological; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence