title: Respiratory toxicity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles: experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the medical field, nanoparticles (NP) Fe3O4 are currently considered to be a relatively inert carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals, and they are also presumed for intravenous (i.v.) administration. Because they have nano dimensions, they probably can penetrate through various membranes and pass from the bloodstream to other organs in the body (Borm P, Muller-Schulte D. Nanoparticles in medicine, 2007, Chapter 21, pp. 387-413, Particle Toxicology, ed. Donaldson K, Borm P, Taylor & Francis Group, USA, 434 p., ISBN 0-8493-5092-1). Therefore, in our experiment, we have examined the impact of a NP Fe3O4 instilled i.v. (to a tail vein of an animal) on the select parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The aim of our study was to determine whether the NP investigated by us, pass through the vascular system to the respiratory tract, and if so, how they affect the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of BAL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were intravenously given a suspension of Fe3O4 and after time intervals of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed, BAL was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters were examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results obtained by us, Fe3O4 NP exposure, compared to the control, induced inflammatory response, the cytotoxic damage and respiratory toxicity. The results further show that Fe3O4 NP, 28 days after i.v. instillation, were eliminated from the respiratory tract by defense mechanisms.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurbankova
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Volkovova
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hraskova
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wimmerova
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moricova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide