Carbon nanotubules, such as nanotubes and nanohorns, are potentially useful as drug delivery or hyperthermia agents for cancer therapy. However, the biokinetics of variously sized nanocarbons are important for their me
dical application and risk assessment. To examine the time course of the bio
distribution of carbon nanohorns (CNHs) in mice, CNH aggregates of 100 nm (L-CNHs) or CNHs of 30-50 nm (S-CNHs) were
dispersed with lipid polyethylene glycol and administered to mice through tail vein injection. Histological observation revealed that S-CNHs accumulated more slowly than
did L-CNHs in the liver and spleen. The accumulation of L- and S-CNHs in spleen reached saturation within 1 and 48 h, respectively, and the accumulation in liver reached saturation within 48 h and > 7 days, respectively. CNHs
did not accumulate appreciably in the lung, skin, or kidney. Histologic, hematologic, and immunologic (IL-6, TNF-¦Á, and IFN-¦Ã) tests
did not reveal obvious toxicologic lesions at any time point.
From the Clinical Editor
In this study the biodistribution and accumulation characteristics of small and large carbon nanohorns were characterized in mice. Data demonstrate slower accumulation of small carbon nanohorns in liver and spleen, no accumulation in skin, lung, or kidney, and no obvious hematologic or immunologic toxicity.