Mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a compound delivery system in zebrafish embryos.

ABSTRACT: Silica nanoparticles can be efficiently employed as carriers for therapeutic drugs in vitro. Here, we use zebrafish embryos as a model organism to see whether mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) can be incorporated to deliver compounds in vivo. We injected 35-40 nL (10 mg/mL) of custom-synthesized, fluorescently-tagged 200 nm MSNPs into the left flank, behind the yolk sac extension, of 2-day-old zebrafish embryos. We tracked the distribution and translocation of the MSNPs using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Some of the particles remained localized at the injection site, whereas others entered the bloodstream and were carried around the body. Embryo development and survival were not significantly affected by MSNP injection. Acridine orange staining revealed that MSNP injections di

SUBMITTER: Sharif F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3352692 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature