Pilot in vivo toxicological investigation of boron nitride nanotubes

Figures & data

Figure 1 (A) Focused-ion beam microscopy image of G-chitosan-coated boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and (B) transmission electron microscopy analysis showing the typical BNNT structure.

Figure 2 (A) Height and (B) phase atomic force microscopy images of G-chitosan coated boron nitride nanotubes.

Figure 3 (A) Size distribution and (B) Z-potential analyses of the injected boron nitride nanotube dispersions.

Table 1 Blood analyses to evaluate hematic parameters and liver and kidney functionality

Parameter	Treated (n = 3)				Control (n = 2)				Reference range
	0^§	2	24^§	72	0	2	24	72
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
WBC (K/μL)	9.25 ± 0.92	9.07 ± 0.74	7.55 ± 0.35	9.60 ± 39.4	8.10 ± 1.27	7.00 ± 1.84	10.10 ± 0.00	5.85 ± 2.19	5.2–12.5
RBC (K/μL)	6.56 ± 0.08	5.84 ± 0.38	6.25 ± 0.08	5.87 ± 0.44	5.92 ± 0.22	5.46 ± 0.32	5.75 ± 0.06	5.01 ± 0.66	5.11–7.94
HGB (g/dL)	11.80 ± 0.57	10.90 ± 0.50	10.95 ± 0.35	10.90 ± 0.36	11.10 ± 0.14	10.05 ± 0.49	10.50 ± 0.00	9.35 ± 1.77	9.8–17.4
HCT (%)	37.65 ± 1.63	34.50 ± 1.57	35.95 ± 1.06	34.77 ± 1.61	34.80 ± 0.71	32.15 ± 1.06	33.50 ± 0.42	29.05 ± 5.16	37–50
MCH (fl)	57.50 ± 3.54	59.00 ± 4.00	57.50 ± 2.12	59.67 ± 3.51	59.00 ± 1.41	59.00 ± 1.41	58.00 ± 0.00	58.00 ± 2.83	57.8–65.4
MCH (Pg)	18.00 ± 1.13	18.70 ± 1.45	17.50 ± 0.85	18.67 ± 1.46	18.80 ± 0.42	18.40 ± 0.28	18.30 ± 0.14	18.60 ± 1.13	17.1–23.5
MCHC (g/dL)	31.35 ± 0.35	31.57 ± 0.29	30.45 ± 0.21	31.37 ± 0.74	31.95 ± 0.21	31.25 ± 0.35	31.45 ± 0.35	32.10 ± 0.42	28.7–3.7
RDW (%)	15.65 ± 0.78	15.13 ± 1.12	16.05 ± 0.07	15.57 ± 0.42	15.85 ± 0.35	15.25 ± 0.07	15.45 ± 0.35	15.10 ± 1.56	15.3–16.9
Plt (K/μL)	215.50 ± 28.99	277.00 ± 43.71	241.00 ± 65.65	410.67 ± 141.64	302.50 ± 23.33	227.00 ± 101.82	384.00 ± 2.83	186.00 ± 154.15	220–628
MPV (fl)	8.20 ± 0.28	7.80 ± 0.20	7.60 ± 0.42	7.80 ± 0.26	7.65 ± 0.21	7.85 ± 0.49	7.80 ± 0.00	7.70 ± 0.00	5.3–9.5
PCT (%)	0.18 ± 0.02	0.22 ± 0.03	0.19 ± 0.06	0.32 ± 0.11	0.23 ± 0.02	0.18 ± 0.07	0.30 ± 0.00	0.14 ± 0.12	0.15–0.40
PDW (%)	10.60 ± 0.00	9.07 ± 0.55	9.75 ± 0.07	9.33 ± 0.46	9.30 ± 0.42	9.20 ± 0.42	9.50 ± 0.00	9.80 ± 0.14	9.1–1.1
ALKP (U/L)	318.50 ± 67.18	334.00 ± 47.57	360.33 ± 95.92	361.67 ± 96.46	261.00 ± 5.66	308.50 ± 47.38	318.50 ± 13.44	326.00 ± 38.18	77–200
GGT (U/L)	4.70 ± 0.42	9.73 ± 3.69	7.00 ± 1.44	6.57 ± 1.40	6.45 ± 1.20	7.50 ± 1.27	7.50 ± 1.70	6.80 ± 1.98	2.9–12.6
AST (U/L)	42.00 ± 12.73	34.33 ± 10.41	38.97 ± 10.26	33.67 ± 8.08	33.50 ± 0.71	33.00 ± 9.90	26.00 ± 0.00	45.00 ± 12.73	40–68
ALT (U/L)	43.50 ± 3.54	42.67 ± 9.07	45.97 ± 11.50	35.67 ± 9.29	42.50 ± 2.12	38.00 ± 12.73	36.00 ± 8.49	51.50 ± 7.78	31–95
Urea (mg/dL)	24.00 ± 4.24	23.67 ± 4.04	26.00 ± 2.65	22.33 ± 2.52	26.00 ± 2.83	27.50 ± 0.71	27.50 ± 0.71	31.00 ± 1.41	20–60
Creatinine (mg/dL)	1.05 ± 0.07	1.03 ± 0.25	1.03 ± 0.06	1.03 ± 0.06	1.00 ± 0.14	1.15 ± 0.07	1.00 ± 0.14	1.10 ± 0.14	0.7–1.5
Temp (°C)	39.00 ± 0.28	39.00 ± 0.35	38.87 ± 0.35	38.93 ± 0.31	39.35 ± 0.21	38.90 ± 0.42	38.80 ± 0.28	38.70 ± 0.14	38–40

Note:

§ Due to a technical problem these values derive from the mean of two animals. Segments in the parameter column divide parameters affecting blood, liver and kidney.

Abbreviations: WBC, white blood cell count; RBC, red blood cell count; HGB, hemoglobin; HCT, hematocrit; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; RDW, red cell diameter width; Plt, platelets; MPV, mean platelet volume; ALKP, alkaline phosphates; PDW, platelets distribution width; GGT, γ-glutamyl transferase; AST, aspartate transferase; ALT, alanine amino transferase; SD, standard deviation; PCT, plateletcrit.