Biodistribution and biocompatibility of passion fruit-like nano-architectures in zebrafish

Abstract

Passion fruit-like nano-architectures (NAs) are all-in-one platforms of increasing interest for the translation of metal nanoparticles into clinics. NAs are nature-inspired disassembling inorganic theranostics, which jointly combine most of the appealing behaviors of noble metal nanoparticles with their potential organism excretion. Despite their unique and promising properties, NAs in vivo interactions and potential adverse effects have not yet been investigated. In this study, we employ zebrafish (Danio Rerio) to assess the development toxicity of NAs as well as their uptake and bioaccumulation at different stages of growth. The evaluation of multiple endpoints related to the toxicity clearly indicates that NAs do not induce mortality, developmental defects, or alterations on the hatching rate and behavior of zebrafish. Moreover, the analysis of nanostructures uptake and biodistribution demonstrates that NAs are successfully internalized and present a specific localization. Overall, our results demonstrate that NAs are able to pass through the embryos chorion and accumulate in specific tissues, exhibiting an impressive biocompatibility.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticles
• zebrafish
• biocompatibility
• theranostics

Acknowledgments

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia is greatly acknowledged for funding. S.G. and M.d.A. acknowledge the COST Action CA 15107 “Multi-Functional Nano-Carbon Composite Materials Network (Multi-Comp).” The authors wish to thank Dr. Filippo Drago (IIT) for ICP measurements, Nikon Imaging Center@IIT, IIT Nanochemistry and Nanophysics departments for access to facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

V.V. acknowledges the MFAG grant number 19852 from Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC).