title: Toxicity and biodistribution of aqueous synthesized ZnS and ZnO quantum dots in mice.
abstract: In the present study, ZnS and ZnO quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized via an all-aqueous process with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains on their surface, and their toxicity as well as biodistribution were evaluated. No haemolysis occurred at a high concentration of 1600 µg/mL in vitro haemolytic assay, which demonstrated that the QDs-PEG displayed good blood compatibility. Following intravenous administration at 2, 6, and 20 mg/kg of the QDs-PEG in mice, the biodistribution, excretion and biocompatibility were characterized at 1 h, 24 h and 7 days, respectively. Quantitative analysis results indicated that the biodistribution trend of ZnS QDs-PEG was similar to that of ZnO QDs-PEG. The QDs-PEG were mainly trapped in the lung and liver, and almost removed from blood within 1 h. QDs-PEG were primarily excreted in faeces at the 2 and 6 mg/kg doses. Coefficients, haematology, blood biochemistry and histopathology results indicated that the QDs-PEG were safe and biocompatible.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Metal Chemistry and Resources Utilization of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University , Lanzhou 730000 , China.
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jingfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shuangyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C031238:zinc sulfide; D015034:Zinc Oxide