Bioaccumulation and Subchronic Toxicity of 14 nm Gold Nanoparticles in Rats.
Colloidal suspensions of 14 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were repeatedly administered intravenously at three dose levels (0.9, 9 and 90 µg) to male Sprague Dawley rats weekly for 7 weeks, followed by a 14-day washout period. After sacrificing, the amount of gold was quantified in the liver, lungs, spleen, skeleton and carcass using neutron activation analysis (NAA). During the study, pre- and post (24 h) administration blood samples were collected from both the test and control groups, the latter which received an equal injection volume of normal saline. General health indicators were monitored together with markers of kidney and liver damage for acute and subchronic toxicity assessment. Histopathological assessments were done on the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen to assess any morphological changes as a result of the exposure to AuNPs. The mass measurements of all the groups showed a steady increase with no signs of overt toxicity. The liver had the highest amount of gold (µg) per gram of tissue after 56 days followed by the spleen, lungs, skeleton and carcass. Markers of kidney and liver damage showed similar trends between the pre and post samples within each group and across groups. The histopathological examination also showed no hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. There was accumulation of Au in tissues after repeated dosing, albeit with no observable overt toxicity, kidney or liver damage.
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. crambanapasi@gmail.com.
Clinton
C
Rambanapasi
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. janrijn.zeevaart@necsa.co.za.
Jan Rijn
JR
Zeevaart
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. 24861820@nwu.ac.za.
Hylton
H
Buntting
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. cor.bester@nwu.ac.za.
Cornelius
C
Bester
Necsa, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (SOC) Ltd., Pelindaba 2025, South Africa. deon.kotze@necsa.co.za.
Deon
D
Kotze
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. Rose.Hayeshi@nwu.ac.za.
Rose
R
Hayeshi
DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa. Anne.Grobler@nwu.ac.za.
Anne
A
Grobler
D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000818:Animals; D003102:Colloids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects*
D003102:Colloids; D006046:Gold
Sprague Dawley rats; bioaccumulation; gold nanoparticles; liver and kidney damage