Accumulation and toxicity of intravenously-injected functionalized graphene oxide in mice

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology 2015-10, Vol.35 (10), p.1211-1218
• Main Authors: Wen, Kai-Ping, Chen, Ying-Chieh, Chuang, Chia-Hui, Chang, Hwan-You, Lee, Chi-Young, Tai, Nyan-Hwa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biocompatibility; biodistribution; Blood; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Chronic Disease; Graphene; graphene oxide; Graphite - pharmacokinetics; Graphite - toxicity; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - pathology; intravenous injection; Liver; Lungs; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures - toxicity; Oxides; Polymers - toxicity; Rodents; Spleen; Sulfonic Acids - toxicity; Tissue Distribution; Toxicity; toxicology
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.3187

Graphene and its functionalized derivatives have recently emerged as interesting nanomaterials with promising applications in biomedicine. In this study, the long‐term in vivo biodistribution of intravenously injected nanographene oxide (NGO) functionalized with poly sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate (PSS) was systematically examined and the potential toxicity over 6 months of NGO‐PSS nanoparticles was investigated. Our results showed that the nanoparticles mainly accumulate in the lung, liver and spleen, where they persist for at least 6 months. These nanoparticles result in acute liver injury and chronic inflammation of the lung, liver and spleen, as evidenced by blood biochemistry results and histological examinations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Graphene and its functionalized derivatives have recently emerged as interesting nanomaterials in biomedicine. In this study, the long‐term in vivo biodistribution of intravenously injected nanographene oxide (NGO) functionalized with poly sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate (PSS) was systematically examined and the potential toxicity over 6 months of NGO‐PSS nanoparticles was investigated. Our results showed that the nanoparticles mainly accumulate in the lung, liver and spleen, which result in acute liver injury and chronic inflammation as evidenced by blood biochemistry results and histological examinations.