A rapid and easy method for the qualitative detection of intracellular deposition of inhaled nanoparticles

It is important for risk assessment of nanoparticle exposure to measure the exact amount of deposited material in pulmonary tissue. Using a nanoparticle exposure device, A/JJmsSlc mice were chronically exposed transtracheally to anatase-type titanium dioxide particles. A microscope-integrated laser Raman spectrometer was used to detect differentially stained macrophages in a pulmonary wash obtained from the mice exposed to the particles. This detection method allowed rapid and easy sample collection and qualitative analysis, and the method may be useful for conducting large-scale evaluations in workers exposed to environments heavily contaminated with nanoparticles.140