The majority of st
udies on the effect of nanomaterials on biological f
unction involves either isolated in vitro cell systems or are concerned with in vivo effects after inhalational or dermal expos
ure. The c
urrent work reports on an intrig
uing observation of the vasc
ular effects seen in an ex vivo perf
used tiss
ue preparation, the isolated perf
used porcine skin flap (IPPSF), in st
udies cond
ucted to assess nanomaterial biodistrib
ution. Compared with a relatively large dataset involving organic chemical inf
usions (n = 53), inf
usion of six different nanoparticles of diverse sizes and composition (silica or dextran coated Fe
ub>2ub>O
ub>3ub>, silica or citrate coated silver, PEG or carboxylated q
uant
um dots [QD]) res
ulted in statistically significant post-inf
usion flap weight gain and an increase in arterial perf
usion press
ure (especially with QD-PEG). In contrast, inf
usion with nC
ub>60ub> nanoparticles did not prod
uce these effects. These observations s
uggest certain nanoparticle inf
usions may be associated with ac
ute vasc
ular physiologic effects that merit f
urther attention.
From the Clinical Editor
In this study utilizing a perfused porcine skin flap, specific nanoparticle infusions were demonstrated to be associated with significant acute vascular physiological effects.