title: Biodistribution and toxicological study of PEGylated single-wall carbon nanotubes in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) nervous system.
abstract: Nanotechnology has been proven to be increasingly compatible with pharmacological and biomedical applications. Therefore, we evaluated the biological interactions of single-wall carbon nanotubes functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWNT-PEG). For this purpose, we analyzed biochemical, histological, behavioral and biodistribution parameters to understand how this material behaves in vitro and in vivo using the fish Danio rerio (zebrafish) as a biological model. The in vitro results for fish brain homogenates indicated that SWNT-PEG had an effect on lipid peroxidation and GSH (reduced glutathione) content. However, after intraperitoneal exposure, SWNT-PEG proved to be less biocompatible and formed aggregates, suggesting that the PEG used for the nanoparticle functionalization was of an inappropriate size for maintaining product stability in a biological environment. This problem with functionalization may have contributed to the low or practically absent biodistribution of SWNT-PEG in zebrafish tissues, as verified by Raman spectroscopy. There was an accumulation of material in the abdominal cavity that led to inflammation and behavioral disturbances, as evaluated by a histological analysis and an open field test, respectively. These results provide evidence of a lack of biocompatibility of SWNTs modified with short chain PEGs, which leads to the accumulation of the material, tissue damage and behavioral alterations in the tested subjects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele E B
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dal Bosco
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química de Nanoestruturas, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla O F
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química de Nanoestruturas, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adelina P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Física, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química de Nanoestruturas, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clascídia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Parfitt
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oceanografía, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, FURG, Rio Grande, RS, 96210-900, Brazil. Electronic address: barrosdm@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Daniela M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Behavioral; Biocompatibility; Biodistribution; Oxidative stress; SWNT-PEG; Toxicity