Shopping Cart
Sub-acute oral toxicity study with fullerene C60
Takahashi M, Kato H, Doi Y, Hagiwara A, Hirata-Koizumi M, Ono A, Kubota R, Nishimura T, Hirose A
The Journal of Toxicological Sciences (2012) Vol.37, N°2, 353-361, 2012
Summary:
To obtain initial information on the possible repeated-dose oral toxicity of fullerene C60, Crl:CD(SD) rats were administered fullerene C60 by gavage once daily at 0 (vehicle: corn oil), 1, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg/kg/day for 29 days, followed by a 14-day recovery period.
No deaths occurred in any groups, and there were no changes from controls in detailed clinical observations, body weights, and food consumption in any treatment groups. Moreover, no treatment-related histopathological changes were found in any organs examined at the end of the administration period and at the end of the recovery period. Blackish feces and black contents of the stomach and large intestine were observed in males and females at 1,000 mg/kg/day in the treatment group. There were no changes from controls in the liver and spleen weights at the end of the administration period, but those weights in males in the 1,000 mg/kg/day group increased at the end of the recovery period.
Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, fullerene carbon 60 were not detected in the liver, spleen or kidney at the end of the administration period and also at the end of the recovery period.
Conclusion:
The present study revealed no toxicological effects of fullerene C60; however, the slight increases in liver and spleen weights after the 14-day recovery period may be because of the influence of fullerene C60 oral administration. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct a long-term examination because the effects of fullerene C60 cannot be ruled out.
Study analysis
In the context of advancing nanoscience research, the role of fullerene C60 as a potential therapeutic agent has gained considerable attention due to its unique physicochemical properties. This exploratory sub-acute oral toxicity study conducted by Takahashi M, Kato H, underscored the absence of significant harmful effects following the oral administration of C60 in a rat model.
However, it is crucial to emphasize that the lack of immediate toxicological consequences does not unequivocally warrant a blanket safety clearance. This assumption is supported by the observation of increased liver and spleen weights in male rats after a 14-day recovery period following the 1,000 mg/kg/day dose administration. Despite the blackish faeces and black contents of the stomach and large intestine observed at this dosage, no traces of fullerene C60 were detected in the liver, spleen, or kidney, suggesting complex metabolic pathways.
In light of these findings, researchers are encouraged to extend investigations into the potential long-term impacts of C60 exposure, including possible cumulative or delayed effects, and to explore the mechanisms of fullerene metabolism in the body. This holistic, cautious approach aligns with the principles of responsible nanotechnology application, a field offering a wealth of promising possibilities yet with significant knowledge gaps on health implications.
DISCLAIMER
C60-France.com products are not designed to diagnose, treat or cure a health problem, or to make or suggest health claims. They can only be used on men or women in the context of scientific research. Live a longer and healthier life with C60-France.com.