Nanoparticle Uptake by the Rat Gastrointestinal Mucosa: Quantitation and Particle Size Dependency

Abstract

Polystyrene microspheres in the size range 50 nm to 3 microns were fed by gavage to female Sprague Dawley rats daily for 10 days at a dose of 1.25 mg/kg-1. Previous histological evidence of the uptake of these particles and their absorption across the gastrointestinal tract and passage via the mesentery lymph supply and lymph nodes to the liver and spleen was confirmed by analysis of tissues for the presence of polystyrene by gel permeation chromatography. Measurement of radioactivity of tissues following administration of 100 nm and 1 micron I125-labelled polystyrene latex particles for 8 days was corroborative although less secure because of the potential lability of the labelled particles. The extent of absorption of 50 nm particles under the conditions of these experiments was 34% and of the 100 nm particles 26% (as measured by determination of polystyrene content), of which total, about 7% (50 nm) and 4% (100 nm), was in the liver, spleen, blood and bone marrow. Particles larger than 100 nm did not reach the bone marrow, and those larger than 300 nm were absent from blood. No particles were detected in heart or lung tissue.

Accumulation and biodistribution of gold nanoparticles in the mesenteric lymph nodes at oral administration

“…It can be assumed that the lowest amount of GN size 50 nm in the lymph nodes was caused by their large size, hindering absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. This thesis is confirmed by studies of P. Jani et al [9], in which the size-dependent effect of suction polystyrene particles (from 50 nm to 3000 nm) was detected. It is interesting to note the fact that at the sizes of 15 nm GN the number of aurosomes in all zones of the lymph nodes increases almost proportionally to the Table 1.…”

Perturbation of physiological systems by nanoparticles

“…Of the various innate immune cells, lipid nanoparticles accumulated with higher efficiency in monocytes 164 and macrophages 165 than in lymphocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. After oral administration or intravenous injection into mice, polystyrene nanoparticles 24 and iron oxide nanoparticles 166 were both detected in bone marrow.…”

Pullulan-based nanoparticles as carriers for transmucosal protein delivery

“…Morevover, the high surface-to-volume ratio displayed by nanoparticles increases drug loading capacity (de la Fuente et al, 2008a). Previous studies have demonstrated that nanoparticle contact with epithelial surfaces is maximised when they display a size within 50 and 500 nm (Desai et al, 1996;Jani et al, 1990) and a strongly positive zeta potential (Bogataj et al, 2003;Carvalho et al, 2010).…”