Biodistribution and accumulation of intravenously administered carbon nanotubes in mice probed by Raman spectroscopy and fluorescent labeling

The circulation, distribution and accumulation of intravenously administered single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in mice have been investigated by using the Raman spectroscopy and fluorescent labeling. The SWCNTs exhibited a rapid blood clearance with a half-life time of 3–4 h. However, rapid uptake and high levels of SWCNTs were observed in liver of mice. These SWCNTs accumulated in liver and were hard to excrete. The SWCNTs in liver led to pathological changes of liver, including injury of macrophages, cellular swelling, unspecific inflammation and blood coagulation. Similar SWCNT uptake behavior was found in spleen and kidney, whereas, no obvious pathological changes were observed in these organs.