Acute vascular effects of nanoparticle infusion in isolated perfused skin.

The majority of studies on the effect of nanomaterials on biological function involves either isolated in vitro cell systems or are concerned with in vivo effects after inhalational or dermal exposure. The current work reports on an intriguing observation of the vascular effects seen in an ex vivo perfused tissue preparation, the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF), in studies conducted to assess nanomaterial biodistribution. Compared with a relatively large dataset involving organic chemical infusions (n = 53), infusion of six different nanoparticles of diverse sizes and composition (silica or dextran coated Fe(2)O(3), silica or citrate coated silver, PEG or carboxylated quantum dots [QD]) resulted in statistically significant post-infusion flap weight gain and an increase in arterial perfusion pressure (especially with QD-PEG). In contrast, infusion with nC(60) nanoparticles did not produce these effects. These observations suggest certain nanoparticle infusions may be associated with acute vascular physiologic effects that merit further attention. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study utilizing a perfused porcine skin flap, specific nanoparticle infusions were demonstrated to be associated with significant acute vascular physiological effects.