Research advances in characteristics of biotransport and biotransformation and toxicities of quantum dots in vivo / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

As a novel fluorescent nanomaterial,quantum dots (QDs) have a prospect for wide application. However , the adverse effects of QDs have become a concern among and more researchers. The toxic actions of QDs in vivo are closely associated with the biotransport and bio?transformation of QDs,which can be affected by the exposure pathways,exposure dose,surface modification and the particle size. Among them,the exposure pathways can affect the absorption and distribution of QDs in vivo,the exposure dose can affect the metabolism and excretion,thus influencing the distribution of QDs in vivo ,the surface modification can affect the distribution ,metabolism and excretion of QDs in vivo,the particle size can affect the absorption,distribution and excretion of QDs in vivo,and larger QDs are more likely to remain in the body and difficult to remove. QDs can enter the body through the circulatory system,get accumulated and degraded in the liver,kidney and other organs. The degraded products can be excerted through excrement and urine under the metabolism in the liver,spleen and kidneys. In addition,QDs can interact with biological macromolecules in the body,causing DNA damage,affecting the function and gene expression level of the liver,kidney,nervous system and other organs,and resulting in pathological and functional damage to tissues and organs.