Nanoparticle exposure in animals can be visualized in the skin and analysed via skin biopsy.
The increasing use of nanomaterials raises concerns about the long-term effects of chronic nanoparticle exposure on human health. However, nanoparticle exposure is difficult to evaluate non-invasively using current measurement techniques. Here we show that the skin is an important site of nanoparticle accumulation following systemic administration. Mice injected with high doses of gold nanoparticles have visibly blue skin while quantum dot-treated animals fluoresce under ultraviolet excitation. More importantly, elemental analysis of excised skin correlates with the injected dose and nanoparticle accumulation in the liver and spleen. We propose that skin analysis may be a simple strategy to quantify systemic nanoparticle exposure and predict nanoparticle fate in vivo. Our results suggest that in the future, dermal accumulation may also be exploited to trigger the release of ultraviolet and visible light-sensitive therapeutics that are currently impractical in vivo due to limits in optical penetration of tissues at these wavelengths.
1] Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3G9 [2] Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E1.
Edward A
EA
Sykes
1] Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3G9 [2] Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E1.
Qin
Q
Dai
1] Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3G9 [2] Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E1.
Kim M
KM
Tsoi
Toronto General Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G2M9.
David M
DM
Hwang
1] Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3G9 [2] Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E1 [3] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E5 [4] Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3H6 [5] Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S3E4.
Warren C W
WC
Chan
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D006046:Gold; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*
D006046:Gold