Figure 3. Quantification of nanoparticle transport ICP-MS analyses of insect antenna and brain following AuNP exposure are shown.

Three different exposure durations were examined: 1 hour, 3 hours and 6 hours exposure. Note that the amount of nanoparticle accumulation in the exposed antenna and in the brain linearly increases with exposure duration. Accumulation of the AuNPs in unexposed antenna is shown as a control. Mean value ± S.E.M. are shown for each exposure duration. After six hours AuNPs exposure, brain accumulates 7.7 ± 1.9 μg gold, whereas, antenna accumulates 2.2 ± 0.22 μg gold, as measured by the ICP-MS.