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Abstract Introduction: In the medical field, nanoparticles (NP) Fe3O4 are currently considered to be a relatively inert carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic pharmaceuticals, and they are also presumed for intravenous (i.v.) administration. Because they have nano dimensions, they probably can penetrate through various membranes and pass from the bloodstream to other organs in the body (Borm P, Muller-Schulte D. Nanoparticles in medicine, 2007, Chapter 21, pp. 387–413, Particle Toxicology, ed. Donaldson K, Borm P, Taylor & Francis Group, USA, 434 p., ISBN 0-8493-5092-1). Therefore, in our experiment, we have examined the impact of a NP Fe3O4 instilled i.v. (to a tail vein of an animal) on the select parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The aim of our study was to determine whether the NP investigated by us, pass through the vascular system to the respiratory tract, and if so, how they affect the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of BAL. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were intravenously given a suspension of Fe3O4 and after time intervals of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed, BAL was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic BAL parameters were examined. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained by us, Fe3O4 NP exposure, compared to the control, induced inflammatory response, the cytotoxic damage and respiratory toxicity. The results further show that Fe3O4 NP, 28 days after i.v. instillation, were eliminated from the respiratory tract by defense mechanisms.

Objective: Nanomaterials are materials consisting of particles having one or more dimensions smaller than 100 nm. Nanoparticles (NP) have different properties and effects in comparison with the same particle materials of larger size. They can penetrate through various membranes and get from the bloodstream to other organs in the body. Therefore, in our experiment we have dealt with the impact of nanoparticles TiO 2 instilled intravenously (i.v.) (to a tail vein of an animal) on the selected parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The aim of our study was to determine whether TiO 2 nanoparticles do pass through the vascular system to the respiratory tract, and if so, how they affect the selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters of bronchoalveolar lavage. Methods: Wistar rats were intravenously given a suspension of TiO 2 nanoparticles in saline solution. This suspension contained 10% volume of rat serum in dose: 1.0% from LD50 = 0.592 mg/kg of animal body weight. After the time intervals 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed under anaesthesia; bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and the BAL cells were isolated. We have examined these markers: differential count of BAL cells-alveolar macrophages (AM), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), lymphocytes (Ly); viability and phagocytic activity of AM; proportion of immature cells and cathepsin D enzyme levels. Results: Regarding the respiratory toxicity of TiO 2 nanoparticles we have found that TiO 2 nanoparticles are relatively inert. BAL examined parameters (except the immature form of AM) were not significantly changed after 28 days of instillation compared to the control group. We found that the TiO 2 nanoparticles used in our study were transferred from the bloodstream to the respiratory tract, but in a 28-day phase after i.v. instillation have been largely eliminated by the defence mechanism from the respiratory tract. Conclusions: We suggest low biopersistence and relatively rapid elimination of TiO 2 nanoparticles from the lung under used experimental conditions.

Objective: Nanomaterials consist of particles smaller than 100 nm -nanoparticles (NPs). Their nano dimensions allow them to penetrate through various membranes and enter into the bloodstream and disseminate into different body organs. Massive expansion of nanotechnologies together with production of new nanoparticles which have not yet been in contact with living organisms may pose a potential health problem. It is therefore necessary to investigate the health impact of NPs after experimental exposure. Comparison of the effect of TiO 2 and NPs Fe 3 O 4 in Wistar rats at time intervals 1, 7, 14 and 28 days was performed by studying the cytotoxic effect in the isolated inflammatory cells from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).Methods: Wistar rats were intravenously (i.v.) given a suspension of NPs TiO 2 or Fe 3 O 4 (coated by sodium oleate) via the tail vein. After time intervals of 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, we sacrificed the animals under anaesthesia, performed BAL and isolated the cells. The number of animals in the individual groups was 7-8. We examined the differential count of BAL cells (alveolar macrophages -AM, polymorphonuclear leukocytes -PMN, lymphocytes -Ly); viability and phagocytic activity of AM; the proportion of immature and polynuclear cells and enzymes -cathepsin D -CAT D, lactate dehydrogenase -LDH and acid phosphatase -ACP.Results: We found that TiO 2 NPs are relatively inert -without induction of inflammatory and cytotoxic response. Exposure to nanoparticles Fe 3 O 4 induced -under the same experimental conditions -in comparison with the control and TiO 2 a more extensive inflammatory and cytotoxic response, albeit only at 1, 7 and 14 days after injection.Conclusions: The results suggest that TiO 2 and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles used in our study were transferred from the bloodstream to the respiratory tract, but this effect was not observed at 28 days after i.v. injection, probably due to their removal from the respiratory tract.