Triiron tetraoxide

Repeated dose toxicity: other routes

Administrative data

Endpoint:

short-term repeated dose toxicity: other route

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Scientifically acceptable and sufficient documented

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Subchronic systemic toxicity and bioaccumulation of Fe3O4 nano- and microparticles following repeated intraperitoneal administration to rats

Author:

Katsnelson et al.

Year:

2011

Bibliographic source:

International Journal of Toxicology, 30(1): 59-68

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Aqueous suspensions of 10 nm, 50 nm, or 1 µm Fe3O4 particles were injected intraperitoneally (ip) to rats at a dose of 500 mg/kg in 4 mL of sterile deionized water 3 times a week for 5 weeks.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Triiron tetraoxide

EC Number:

215-277-5

EC Name:

Triiron tetraoxide

Cas Number:

1317-61-9

Molecular formula:

Fe3O4

IUPAC Name:

Iron oxide

Test material form:

other: nano-sized and micro-sized particles

Details on test material:

10, 50, and 1000 nm (1µm)

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

not specified

Sex:

female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

intraperitoneal

Vehicle:

water

Duration of treatment / exposure:

5 weeks

Frequency of treatment:

3 times a week for 5 weeks

Doses / concentrations

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
500 mg/kg bw

No. of animals per sex per dose:

12 animals

Control animals:

yes

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Remarks on result:

not determinable

Remarks:

no NOAEL identified

Target system / organ toxicity

Critical effects observed:

not specified

Any other information on results incl. tables

It was found that, given equal mass doses, Fe3O4 nanoparticles possess considerably higher systemic toxicity than microparticles, but within the nanometric range the relationship between particle size and resorptive toxicity is intricate and nonunique. The latter fact may be attributed to differences in different nanoparticles’ toxicokinetics, which are controlled by both more or less substantial direct penetration of nanoparticles through biological barriers and their unequal solubility.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Aqueous suspensions of 10 nm, 50 nm, or 1 µm Fe3O4 particles were injected intraperitoneally (ip) to rats at a dose of 500 mg/kg in 4 mL of sterile deionized water 3 times a week for 5 weeks. Following exposure, functional and biochemical indices and histopathological examinations of spleen and liver tissues of exposed rats were evaluated for signs of toxicity. The iron content of the blood was measured photometrically, and that of the liver and the spleen by atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods. It was found that, given equal mass doses, Fe3O4 nanoparticles possess considerably higher systemic toxicity than microparticles, but within the nanometric range the relationship between particle size and resorptive toxicity is intricate and nonunique. The latter fact may be attributed to differences in different nanoparticles’ toxicokinetics, which are controlled by both more or less substantial direct penetration of nanoparticles through biological barriers and their unequal solubility.