Observation of Biodistribution of Indium-Tin Oxide Nanoparticles in Mice

We have observed biodistribution of tin-doped indium oxide nanoparticles with the size of ca. 10 nm. After the particles administered into mice through the tail vein, the organs were excited at several post-injection time then the specimens were subjected with X-ray scanning analytical microscope. The obtained fluorescent X-ray images of indium element clearly indicated that the injected nanoparticles reached and condensed temporally in the lung, liver, and spleen (especially, lung). The distributions among the organs were changed by the post-injection time. The amount of nanoparticles in organs rapidly decreases within 4 weeks.