title: Biodistribution and acute toxicity of naked gold nanoparticles in a rabbit hepatic tumor model.
abstract: There is a paucity of data regarding the safety of administering solid gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in large animal tumor models. We assessed the acute toxicity and biodistribution of 5 nm and 25 nm solid AuNPs in New Zealand White rabbits (n = 6 in each) with implanted liver Vx2 tumors 24 h after intravenous injection. Gold concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP) and imaged with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). There was no clinico-pathologic evidence of renal, hepatic, pulmonary, or other organ dysfunction. After 25 nm AuNP administration, the concentration of white blood cells increased after treatment (p = 0.001). Most other blood studies were unchanged. AuNPs were distributed to the spleen, liver, and Vx2 tumors, but not to other tissues. The urinary excretion of AuNPs was bimodal as measured by ICP. 25 nm AuNPs were more evenly distributed throughout tissues and may be better tools for medical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Evan S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Glazer
authors.forename: Cihui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Amir N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Hamir
authors.forename: Agatha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borne
authors.forename: Catherine Shea
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Curley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D011817:Rabbits; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D006046:Gold