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. 2011 Nov 20;17(4):263–274. doi: 10.1007/s12199-011-0252-8

Table 1.

Summaries of the selected studies on particle translocation

Material Diameter (nm) Animal Route Dose or concentration Results Reference
Fe3O4 1,300 Rat Inhalation 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1 mg/m3, 4 weeks Detected in lung-associated lymph node [B, C] [13]
Human serum albumin 7 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt Detected in kidney, liver [A], and lymph node [A, D] [14]
mPEG 20 kDa 9 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt Detected in lymph node [D] [14]
Polystyrene–polyacrylate 34 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt Detected in lymph node [D] [14]
Polystyrene–polyacrylate 48 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt <0.02% in lymph node [14]
Polystyrene–polyacrylate 68 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt <0.02% in lymph node [14]
Polystyrene–polyacrylate 120 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt <0.02% in lymph node [14]
Polystyrene–polyacrylate 270 Rat Intratracheal 10 pmol/g wt <0.02% in lymph node [14]
TiO2 3 Mouse Intratracheal 0.1 mg × 4 Detected in brain [B] [15]
CeO2 7 Rat Intratracheal 0.2 mg Detected in blood [B]. <0.01% in heart, kidney, brain, testis [16]
Cu 24 Mouse Intranasal 1 mg, 40 mg Detected in blood, liver, kidney, olfactory bulb [B]. Not significant in spleen, heart, brain [17]
Cu 17,000 Mouse Intranasal 1 mg Not significant in blood, liver, kidney, olfactory bulb, spleen, heart, brain [17]
Polyacrylamide 31 Mouse Intratracheal 0.1 mg Detected in blood, liver, heart, thyroid [D] [18]
Polyacrylamide 1,800 Mouse Intratracheal 0.1 mg Detected in blood, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, thyroid [D] [18]
Ir 20 Rat Inhalation Detected in blood, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, brain [D] [19]
Ir 80 Rat Inhalation Not detected in blood, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, brain [19]
TiO2 700–800 Rat Inhalation 2, 10, 50 mg/m3, 6 h/day, 5 days Detected in mediastinal lymph node [D]. Not detected in liver, kidney, spleen, olfactory bulb, brain [20]
Polystyrene 100 Mouse Intranasal 6.8 × 108 particles Detected in apical cells of olfactory epithelium [A] [21]
C60 0.68 Mouse Intratracheal 0.625, 1 mg Detected in lung capillary, lymph nodes, type I epithelial cells [A] [22]
Au 2 Mouse Intratracheal 3 mg Detected in liver [D] [23]
Au 40 Mouse Intratracheal 15 mg Not detected in liver [23]
Au 100 Mouse Intratracheal 15 mg Not detected in liver [23]
TiO2 1,100 Rat Inhalation 250 mg/m3, 6 h/day, 5 days Detected in mediastinal lymph node [D] [24]
Silica 1,200 Rat Inhalation 100 mg/m3, 6 h Detected in mediastinal lymph node [D] [24]
TiO2 80 Mouse Intranasal 0.5 mg Detected in olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum [B] [25]
TiO2 150 Mouse Intranasal 0.5 mg Detected in olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum [B] [25]
TiO2 21 Rat Intratracheal 0.52 mg Detected in lymph node [B] [26]
TiO2 1,000 Rat Intratracheal 10.7 mg Not significant in lymph node [26]
Carbon black 120 Rat Inhalation 16 mg/m3, 4 weeks Detected in endothelial cells of blood capillary [A]. Not detected in liver, spleen, aortic endothelial cells [27]
Carbon (Technegas) 100 Human Inhalation Not detected in liver [28]
MnO2 30 Rat Inhalation 0.5 mg/m3 Detected in olfactory bulb, striatum, frontal cortex, cerebellum [B] [29]
Polystyrene 56 Rat Intratracheal 0.6 mg Detected in liver, blood [D] [30]
Polystyrene 202 Rat Intratracheal 0.6 mg Detected in liver, blood [D] [30]
Carbon (Technegas) 108 Human Inhalation No obvious uptake by liver or spleen [31]
Carbon black 14 Mouse Intratracheal 1 mg Detected in interstitium, capillary lumen [A] [32]
Au 16 Rat Inhalation 0.088 mg/m3, 6 h Detected in blood [B], alveolar epithelial cells [A] [33]
Carbon (Technegas) 35 Human Inhalation 4.6 × 105 particles/cm3, 6 min No significant translocation to systemic circulation [34]
TiO2 22 Rat Inhalation 0.11 mg/m3 Detected in capillary lumen [D], interstitium [A, D], alveolar epithelial cells [D] [35]
Carbon black 14 Mouse Intratracheal (25, 125, 625 μg) × 4 Detected in mediastinal lymph node [A, B, C] [36]
Carbon black 95 Mouse Intratracheal (25, 125, 625 μg) × 4 Detected in mediastinal lymph node [A, B, C] [36]
Carbon 36 Rat Inhalation 0.16 mg/m3 Detected in olfactory bulb, cerebrum, cerebellum [B] [37]
Ir 15–20 Rat Inhalation 0.2 mg/m3 Detected in liver, spleen, kidney, brain [D] [38]
CdO 40 Rat Inhalation 0.07, 0.55 mg/m3, 6 h Detected in liver, kidney [B] [39]
Polylactic acid 1,500 Rat Intranasal Detected in submucosal layer [A] [40]
Polystyrene 240 Rat Intratracheal 9.5 mg Not observed in alveolar epithelial cells, endothelial cells, capillary lumen [41]
Carbon (Technegas) 33 Human Inhalation No accumulation was observed in vicinity of liver [42]
MnO2 1,300 Rat Inhalation 3 mg/m3, 15 days Detected in cerebral cortex [B]. Not significant in liver, olfactory bulb, cerebellum, brainstem, diencephalon, basal ganglia [43]
MnO2 18,000 Rat Inhalation 3 mg/m3, 15 days Not significant in liver, olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brainstem, diencephalon, basal ganglia [43]
Ir 15 Rat Inhalation 2.5 mg/m3, 1 h Detected in liver [D] [44]
Ir 80 Rat Inhalation 2.5 mg/m3, 1 h <0.1% in liver [44]
Carbon 20-29 Rat Inhalation 0.08, 0.18 mg/m3, 6 h Detected in liver [B] [45]
Ag 15 Rat Inhalation 0.113 mg/m3, 6 h Detected in liver, kidney [D] [46]
Ag 15 Rat Intratracheal 0.05 mg Detected in liver [D] [46]
Polystyrene 20 Rat Intranasal 0.2 mg Detected in blood [D]. <0.1% in liver, kidney, spleen, brain [47]
Polystyrene 100 Rat Intranasal 0.2 mg Detected in blood, liver [D]. <0.1% in kidney, spleen, brain [47]
Polystyrene 500 Rat Intranasal 0.2 mg Detected in blood, liver [D]. <0.1% in kidney, spleen, brain [47]
Polystyrene 1,000 Rat Intranasal 0.2 mg Detected in blood, liver [D]. <0.1% in kidney, spleen, brain [47]
Polystyrene 1,100 Mouse Intranasal 1 mg Detected in nasal-associated lymphoid tissues, posterior lymph nodes, mediastinal lymph nodes [A, D]. <0.1% of lung burden in spleen [48]
Colloidal albumin <80 Hamster Intratracheal 0.1 mg Detected in blood, liver [D]. <0.1% in spleen, kidney, brain [49]
Teflon 18 Rat Inhalation 5 × 105 particles/cm3 Detected in interstitium [A] [50]
Carbon 25 Mouse Inhalation Detected in alveolar epithelial cells [A] [50]
Pt 13 Rat Inhalation 5.6 × 106 particles/cm3 Detected in liver [D] [50]
TiO2 2,100 Rat Inhalation 25, 50 mg/m3 Detected in lymph nodes [C] [51]
BaSO4 4,300 Rat Inhalation 37.5, 75 mg/m3 Detected in lymph nodes [C] [51]
Polystyrene 2,130 Rat Intratracheal 2.4 × 108 particles Detected in lymph nodes [D] [52]
Mn phosphate 4,900 Rat Intratracheal 40, 80, 160 μg Mn/kg No significant increase in striatum [53]
Mn phosphate 1,670–15,500 Rat Intratracheal 40, 80, 160 μg Mn/kg No significant increase in striatum [53]
Mn3O4 730 Rat Intratracheal 40, 80, 160 μg Mn/kg No significant increase in striatum [53]
Polystyrene 40,000 Guinea pig Intratracheal Did not penetrate basement membrane [54]
Polystyrene 830 Rat Intranasal 8 × 109 particles Detected in blood [A] [55]
TiO2 20 Rat Inhalation 23 mg/m3, 12 weeks Detected in lymph nodes, interstitium [D] [56]
TiO2 250 Rat Inhalation 23 mg/m3, 12 weeks Detected in lymph nodes, interstitium [D] [56]
Silica 300 Mouse Intratracheal 1 mg Detected in interstitium [A, B] [57]
TiO2 21 Rat Inhalation 23.5 mg/m3, 12 weeks Detected in hilar lymph nodes [D], alveolar epithelial cells [A] [58]
TiO2 250 Rat Inhalation 23 mg/m3, 12 weeks Detected in hilar lymph nodes [D], alveolar epithelial cells [A] [58]
TiO2 20 Rat Intratracheal 0.065, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 mg Detected in epithelial cells/interstitium [C, D] [59]
TiO2 250 Rat Intratracheal 0.5, 1 mg Detected in epithelial cells/interstitium [D] [59]
TiO2 12 Rat Intratracheal 0.5 mg Detected in epithelial cells/interstitium [D] [59]
TiO2 220 Rat Intratracheal 0.5 mg Detected in epithelial cells/interstitium [D] [59]
Carbon black 20 Rat Intratracheal 0.5 mg Detected in epithelial cells/interstitium [D] [59]
Polystyrene 1,700 Rat Intratracheal 107, 109 particles Detected in interstitium [A, C, D] [60]
Polystyrene 1,700 Dog Intratracheal 107, 109 particles Detected in interstitium [A, D] [60]
Carbon black 240 Rat Inhalation 7 mg/m3, 1, 3, 6 weeks Detected in hilar lymph nodes [C, D] [61]
Fly ash 2,700 Rat Inhalation 1.7 mg/m3, 1 year Particles less than 2,300 nm transported to bronchopulmonary lymph nodes [A] [62]
Polystyrene 1,900 Rat Intratracheal 4 × 108 particles Detected in tracheobronchial lymph nodes [A] [63]
Polystyrene 1300 Dog Intratracheal 5 × 1010 particles Detected in lymph nodes [A, D] [64]
TiO2 400 Rat Inhalation 10, 50, 250 mg/m3, 2 years Detected in liver [A, C], spleen [A, C], lymph node [C], type I epithelial cells [A] [65]
Polystyrene 3,000 Dog Intratracheal 11 mg Detected in tracheobronchial lymph nodes [D] [66]
Polystyrene 7,000 Dog Intratracheal 0.7 mg Detected in tracheobronchial lymph nodes [D] [66]
Polystyrene 13,000 Dog Intratracheal 0.4 mg Not detected in tracheobronchial lymph nodes [66]
Aluminosilicate 700 Dog Inhalation IBB 11 μCi Detected in lung-associated lymph nodes [D] [67]
Aluminosilicate 1,500 Dog Inhalation IBB 21 μCi Detected in lung-associated lymph nodes [D] [67]
Aluminosilicate 2,800 Dog Inhalation IBB 29 μCi Detected in lung-associated lymph nodes [D] [67]
Aluminosilicate 700 Rat Inhalation IBB 0.2 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 1,500 Rat Inhalation IBB 2.4 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 2,800 Rat Inhalation IBB 0.43 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 700 Mouse Inhalation IBB 0.075 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 1,500 Mouse Inhalation IBB 0.56 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 2,800 Mouse Inhalation IBB 2.5 μCi <0.1% in lung-associated lymph nodes [67]
Aluminosilicate 1,700 Dog Intratracheal ILB 0.5–64 μCi Detected in thoracic lymph nodes [D] [68]
Silica 1,400 Rat Inhalation 109 mg/m3 Detected in alveolar epithelial cells, interstitium [A] [69]
Carbon 30 Mouse Intratracheal 4 mg Detected in type I alveolar epithelial cells and interstitial cells [A] [70]
Polystyrene 100 Mouse Intratracheal 4 mg Detected in interstitial cells and type I alveolar epithelial cells [A] [70]
Polystyrene 1,000 Mouse Intratracheal 4 mg Detected in type I alveolar epithelial cells [A] [70]
Colloidal ferritin 8 Rat Intratracheal Detected in vesicles in lymphatic endothelium [A] [71]
Carbon 35 Rat Intratracheal Detected in a vesicle within epithelial lining of alveolar wall, vesicles within lymphatic endothelium [A] [71]
Au 30 Rat Intratracheal 0.65 mg Detected in intracapillary platelets [A] [72]
182Ta 1,000 Dog Inhalation ILB 30–7230 mg Detected in lymph nodes [A, D] [73]
182Ta 5,000 Dog Inhalation ILB 2700–14000 mg Detected in lymph nodes [A, D] [73]
182Ta 10,000 Dog Inhalation ILB 5240–5950 mg Detected in lymph nodes [D] [73]

[A]–[D] indicate the criteria for validity of particle detection (see “5. Validity of detection” under the heading “Selection of studies“ in the “Materials and methods” section)

wt weight, IBB initial body burden, ILB initial lung burden, mPEG methoxypoly (ethylene glycol)