Evaluation of Influence of Metal Nanoparticles аnd Their Oxides on Elemental Composition of Organs in Laboratory Animals аnd Their Bioaccumulative Potential

BACKGROUND: Active development of nanotechnology and the use of research in many industries, including agriculture and medicine, require a comprehensive study of the influence of ultra dispersed substances on humans and animals. Today, we have limited evidence of the influence of nanoparticles on the microelement levels in organs and tissues. However, given the growing production and release of nanoparticles into the environment in processes, it is required to consider both the direct and indirect effects of particles of various chemical origin. AIM: To evaluate the influence of copper, cobalt, and copper oxide nanoparticles on behavior and microelement levels in the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system in laboratory animals and to study their bioaccumulative potential upon intragastric administration. METHODS: The experiment was conducted on male ICR mice divided into four variable groups of 6 subjects each, who were administered distilled water (control group) or 0.02 mg/kg suspensions of copper, cobalt, and copper oxide nanoparticles intragastrically for 20 days, once a day. We assessed the changes in body weight and anxiety in animals (the number of upright postures with and without support and the number of short-term grooming). At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized to sample the liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs and to determine the microelement levels using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. RESULTS: After administration of all tested nanoparticles, the animals showed signs of anxiety, including an increased number of upright postures with support (the cobalt nanoparticle group) and a decreased number of upright postures without support accompanied by increased number of grooming acts (the copper and copper oxide nanoparticle groups). Animals of the same groups (copper and copper oxide) showed a decrease in body weight compared to the control group. An analysis of the microelement level in the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system revealed ambiguous changes in potassium, calcium, and sulfur levels and increased oxygen content in the testes and appendages. We detected no signs of bioaccumulation of copper, copper oxide, and cobalt nanoparticles in the studied organs. Thus, nanoparticles have indirect toxicity, which is manifested by changes in the microelement levels in organs and is characterized by the rapid elimination of nanoparticles. CONCLUSION: Copper, cobalt, and copper oxide nanoparticles have a multidirectional indirect effect on the physiology and behavior of animals realized by changes in the microelement levels in their organs. We detected no accumulation of copper, cobalt, or copper oxide nanoparticles in the studied organs.