Comparative toxicity and distribution of InCl₃ and In₂O₃ nanoparticles in rats

Abstract

Recent studies have reported that metal oxide nanoparticles had potential adverse effects. In this research, the tissue distribution and toxic effects of administered InCl₃ (bulk) and indium (III) oxide Nanoparticles (In₂O₃-NPs < 45 nm, BET of 43.6 m²/g and average hydrodynamic diameter of 79.97 nm) were investigated. Male Wistar rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of InCl₃ (bulk) and In₂O₃-NPs (2 mg/kg body weight, daily) for four consecutive weeks. Indium, copper and iron concentrations were measured by using ICP-OES. The indium levels were highest in the liver, followed in decreasing order by the levels in the spleen, kidney and intestine. The concentration of indium in In₂O₃-NPs exposed rats was more than InCl₃ group and indium exposure caused significant decrease on Hb, RBC levels, PLT count and copper and iron concentrations in organs, which is probably due to an interference that could take place by indium (III) through iron (III) uptake mechanism.

Keywords:

• Nano-In2O3
• indium (III) chloride
• iron parameters
• tissue distribution
• rats

Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Prof. Alireza Badiei, for providing working facilities.

Declaration of interest

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.