In Vivo Distribution of Poly(ethylene glycol) Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoclusters: An Ultrastructural Study
Maria Suciu,
Claudiu Mirescu,
Izabell Crăciunescu,
Sergiu Gabriel Macavei,
Cristian Leoștean,
Rǎzvan Ştefan,
Loredana E. Olar,
Septimiu-Cassian Tripon,
Alexandra Ciorîță,
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran
Affiliations
Maria Suciu
Electron Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Claudiu Mirescu
Electron Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Izabell Crăciunescu
Physics of Nanostructured Systems Department, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sergiu Gabriel Macavei
Physics of Nanostructured Systems Department, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cristian Leoștean
Physics of Nanostructured Systems Department, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Rǎzvan Ştefan
Research Centre for Biophysics, Life Sciences Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Loredana E. Olar
Research Centre for Biophysics, Life Sciences Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Septimiu-Cassian Tripon
Electron Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alexandra Ciorîță
Electron Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran
Electron Microscopy Centre, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The in vivo distribution of 50 nm clusters of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs-PEG) was conducted in this study. SPIONs-PEG were synthesized de novo, and their structure and paramagnetic behaviors were analyzed by specific methods (TEM, DLS, XRD, VSM). Wistar rats were treated with 10 mg Fe/kg body weight SPIONs-PEG and their organs and blood were examined at two intervals for short-term (15, 30, 60, 180 min) and long-term (6, 12, 24 h) exposure evaluation. Most exposed organs were investigated through light and transmission electron microscopy, and blood and urine samples were examined through fluorescence spectrophotometry. SPIONs-PEG clusters entered the bloodstream after intraperitoneal and intravenous administrations and ended up in the urine, with the highest clearance at 12 h. The skin and spleen were within normal histological parameters, while the liver, kidney, brain, and lungs showed signs of transient local anoxia or other transient pathological affections. This study shows that once internalized, the synthesized SPIONs-PEG disperse well through the bloodstream with minor to nil induced tissue damage, are biocompatible, have good clearance, and are suited for biomedical applications.
