title: In vivo biodistribution of CNTs using a BALB/c mouse experimental model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to their unique behaviors, carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based systems meet essential requirements for modern applications, such as electronics, optics, photovoltaics, fuel cells, aerospace engineering, military and biomedical applications. CNTs biocompatibility and toxic effects were assessed both in vitro and in vivo, in terms of hemocompatibility, cytocompatibility, immunoreactions and genetic behavior.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to evaluate the in vivo biodistribution and biocompatibility of carbon nanopowder synthesized by plasma processing, using a BALB/c mouse experimental model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three months old BALB/c mice were aseptically injected with 100 μL of 1 mg/mL dispersions. The obtained carbon-based nano-systems were dispersed in saline solution and subsequently sterilized by using a 30 minutes treatment with UV irradiation. The reference mice were injected with 100 μL of saline. The mice were kept under standard conditions of light, temperature, humidity, food and water (ad libitum) before the vital organ harvest. The animal welfare was daily monitored. At two and 10 days after the inoculation, the animals were euthanized under general anesthesia, for the sampling of internal organs (brain, myocardium, pancreas, liver, lung, kidney and spleen).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No animal died during the experiment. Brain, myocardium and pancreas were histologically normal, with no tissue damage, inflammatory infiltrate or inorganic deposits. CNTs were evidenced only in hepatic, renal, pulmonary and spleen tissue samples. Increased amounts of inorganic granular structures were reported after 10 days of treatment, when compared to the short-term (two days) inoculation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our BALB/c mouse experimental model was found to be useful for the in vivo assessment of biodistribution and biocompatibility of CNTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania; danedmih@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Oana Mihaela
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Fufă
authors.forename: Dan Eduard
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Mihaiescu
authors.forename: Laurenţiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mogoantă
authors.forename: Tudor Adrian
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bălşeanu
authors.forename: George Dan
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mogoşanu
authors.forename: Alexandru Mihai
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grumezescu
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolocan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon