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Abstract
Biodistribution of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in more than 25 organs were examined
on 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after a single intravenous (i.v.) injection
in rats. Au was rapidly and consistently accumulated in liver (49.4+/-50.4-72.2+/-40.5
ng/g) and spleen (8.4+/-5.0-9.5+/-6.4 ng/g) throughout the entire timeframe of the
study (2 months). Significant accumulation of Au in kidney (up to 5.5+/-2.5 ng/g)
and testis (up to 0.6+/-0.1 ng/g) occurred from 1 month post-injection when Au level
in urine and feces decreased. Significant increase of Au in blood occurred 2 months
after injection, coincident with the delayed accumulation in kidney. Au accumulation
in lungs was found at 1 day post-injection but decreased within a week. No accumulation
of Au was found in the brain. Microarray results of liver and spleen point to significant
effects on genes related to detoxification, lipid metabolism, cell cycle, defense
response, and circadian rhythm. These results demonstrate that significant biodistribution
of Au occurs in the body over 2 months after a single i.v. injection of AuNPs, accompanied
by gene expression changes in target organs.
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