Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) are being manufactured for use as sensors and transistors for circuit applications. The goal was to assess pulmonary toxicity and fate of Si NW using an in vivo experimental model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with 10, 25, 50, 100, or 250 μg of Si NW (~20–30 nm diameter; ~2–15 μm length). Lung damage and the pulmonary distribution and clearance of Si NW were assessed at 1, 3, 7, 28, and 91 days after-treatment. Si NW treatment resulted in dose-dependent increases in lung injury and inflammation that resolved over time. At day 91 after treatment with the highest doses, lung collagen was increased. Approximately 70% of deposited Si NW was cleared by 28 days with most of the Si NW localized exclusively in macrophages. In conclusion, Si NW induced transient lung toxicity which may be associated with an early rapid particle clearance; however, persistence of Si NW over time related to dose or wire length may lead to increased collagen deposition in the lung.

中文翻译：

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气管内滴注的硅纳米线在大鼠中的肺毒性，分布和清除。

硅纳米线（Si NW）正在制造，用作电路应用的传感器和晶体管。目的是使用体内实验模型评估肺毒性和Si NW的命运。雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠气管内10，25，50，100，或250灌输 μ〜2-15克的Si NW（的〜20-30纳米直径 μ米长）。在治疗后1、3、7、28和91天评估肺损伤以及Si NW的肺分布和清除率。Si NW治疗导致肺损伤和炎症的剂量依赖性增加，并随着时间的推移而消退。最高剂量治疗后第91天，肺胶原蛋白增加。到28天时，大约70％的沉积Si NW被清除，其中大部分Si NW仅位于巨噬细胞中。总之，Si NW诱导了短暂的肺毒性，这可能与早期快速清除颗粒有关。但是，随着时间的推移，Si NW的持续存在与剂量或导线长度有关，可能会导致胶原蛋白在肺中的沉积增加。