Abstract

EVALUATION OF SUBACUTE ORAL TOXICITY OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES IN WISTAR RATS- A PILOT STUDY

Raut Shrish V., Gauri Rajendra Kulkarni, Kavita Dhar Bagati and Neerjesh*

Abstract

Nanotoxicology is the study of interactions of nanostructures with biological systems. The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology is likely to become yet another source for human exposures to engineered nanoparticles. Present study is aimed at evaluation of toxicological and pharmacological effects of Zinc oxide nanoparticles. Wistar rats of either sex were treated with ZnO nanoparticle saline suspension at a dose of 100 mg/ 10 ml orally for 28 days. Random allocation of animals 8 rats (4 Males and 4 Females) in Test group and 4 rats (2 Males and 2 Females) in Control group was done. The blood samples of both test and control group animals were drawn on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days in the morning on laboratory platforms. There were no statistically significant changes in hematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathology of major organs was also without significant changes. In the present preclinical study, possible pharmacological effects of nanoparticle of fixed size have been studied at fixed dose. ZnONP (< 50 nm size) if administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg have no clinically observable adverse effects in animals. ZnONP (< 50 nm size) if administered orally have effects on lungs parenchyma with reduced relative weight of the organ with similar study showing perivasculitis and peribronchitis in Lungs.

Keywords: Nanopharmacology, Zinc Oxide nanoparticles, Subacute toxicity.