Synthesis and Toxicity Distribution of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in a Biological Model

In this research, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have been synthesized under different reaction conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the particle size and morphology. The size of the varied in diameter (32 nm–55 nm) according to the reaction conditions employed. Biodistribution, accumulation and toxic effects of ZnO-NPs on rats as biological model was studied. ZnO-NPs were administered orally in two doses (20 or 80 mg/Kg body weight/day) to Wister rats for 30 consecutive days. Zinc concentrations and iron parameters in soft tissues were measured by using ICP-OES. The results of this study indicate that, rats exposed to ZnO-NPs showed no obvious toxic or adverse health effect at the dose level of 20 mg/kg body weight but a significant accumulation of ZnO-NPs in the kidney, liver, spleen, and brain were observed at high dose administration . These results indicate that ZnO-NPs could be used safely in low doses.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nano-ZnO ، Metal oxide nanoparticles ، Tissue distribution ، Rats ، Oral acute toxicity