In vitro assay for assessing the gastrointestinal biodurability of engineered nanomaterials

ENVR 255

Paige N. Wiecinski, Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Program, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53706, Kevin M. Metz, kmmetz@wisc.edu, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1555 Observatory Dr, Madison, WI 53706, R. J. Hamers, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, and Joel A. Pedersen, joelpedersen@wisc.edu, Department of Soil Science and Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1299.
The toxicity of engineered nanoparticles is expected to depend in part on their persistence in biological systems. We examined the gastrointestinal biodurability of PEGylated CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots using an in vitro assay. The compositions of the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, temperature and residence times were designed to closely mimic conditions in the stomach and duodenum of the small intestine. Quantum dots appear most susceptible to degradation in the gastric phase of the assay. Under gastric conditions, removal of the PEG ligand diminishes the solution stability of PEG350-quantum dots, while PEG¬5000-quantum dots are completely dissolved. Inclusion of the glycoprotein mucin in the gastric phase, however, protects both PEG350- and PEG5000-coated quantum dots from gastric induced degradation. These results suggest that further evaluation of the biodurability of engineered nanoparticles is warranted. This assay has the potential to be a quick, simple and effective screening method for a variety of nanoparticles.
 

Environmental Behavior and Fate of Manufactured Nanomaterials
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008