The Identification and Characterization of f-SWCNT from Tissue Samples by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes are new material with biomedical applications which present also novel challenges for toxicity testing. The first challenge is the difficulty of their identification once they are systematically administrated. This problem is due to their size, containing only carbon atoms in their structure, which makes these nanostructures very hard to detect in biological tissues. This study aims to identify using the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy technique, the presence of SWCNT in the tissues and the preferential organs in which these nanoelements are stocked. The identification of the accumulation patterns related to the time passed until CNT are accumulated in organs, will allow the establishing of a preliminary conclusion regarding the body distribution of these nanostructures. In this respect we used some fluorescent labeled SWCNT that were injected intraperitonealy in a single dose at laboratory rats. The animals were sacrificed in dynamics at certain time intervals. Using the confocal technique, high accumulations of SWCNT were found in the mesentery, grite omentum and abdomial parietal lymph nodes and a discrete presence in splenic, lung, renal and liver tissues. In the pancreas and encephalon the nanotubes were not found.