Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
10:56
Synthesis of Cd-free InP/ZnS Quantum Dots Suitable for Biomedical Applications
Published on: February 6, 2016
Renal clearance of quantum dots
Hak Soo Choi1, Wenhao Liu, Preeti Misra
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Room SL-B05, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Nature Biotechnology
|September 25, 2007
Summary
Nanoparticle coatings are crucial for efficient body clearance. Zwitterionic or neutral coatings under 5.5 nm hydrodynamic diameter enable renal excretion, reducing toxicity and improving imaging for nanotechnology applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Nanotechnology offers potential for disease diagnosis and treatment.
- Inefficient clearance of nanoparticles from the body can increase toxicity and hinder radiological imaging.
- Current nanoparticle designs often lack efficient biodegradation or excretion pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the requirements for renal filtration and urinary excretion of inorganic, metal-containing nanoparticles.
- To investigate the impact of nanoparticle coatings on serum protein adsorption and subsequent excretion.
- To establish design principles for nanoparticles with improved pharmacokinetic profiles for biomedical use.
Main Methods:
- Intravenously administered quantum dots in rodents as a model system.
- Evaluation of zwitterionic and neutral organic coatings on quantum dot hydrodynamic diameter.
- Measurement of serum protein adsorption to coated quantum dots.
- Assessment of renal excretion and whole-body elimination of quantum dots.
Main Results:
- Zwitterionic or neutral organic coatings prevented serum protein adsorption, which otherwise increased hydrodynamic diameter by over 15 nm.
- A hydrodynamic diameter below 5.5 nm was critical for efficient renal excretion.
- Quantum dots with appropriate coatings were rapidly and efficiently excreted via the urinary system.
- This facilitated elimination of nanoparticles from the body.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle surface chemistry, specifically zwitterionic or neutral coatings, is key to preventing protein adsorption and maintaining a small hydrodynamic diameter.
- Achieving a hydrodynamic diameter <5.5 nm is essential for efficient renal clearance of inorganic nanoparticles.
- This research provides a foundational understanding for designing safer and more effective nanoparticles for nanomedicine, improving both therapeutic delivery and diagnostic imaging.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Renal Drug Clearance: Overview
Renal clearance is a crucial parameter in pharmacokinetics that quantifies the rate at which the kidneys excrete a drug. It represents a constant fraction of the central volume of distribution containing the drug that the kidney eliminates per unit of time.
Renal clearance can be calculated using different methods. One approach is to divide the urinary drug excretion rate by the plasma drug concentration. This method directly measures renal clearance, indicating the kidneys' efficiency in...
Renal clearance can be calculated using different methods. One approach is to divide the urinary drug excretion rate by the plasma drug concentration. This method directly measures renal clearance, indicating the kidneys' efficiency in...
01:31Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Drug's Physicochemical Properties and Plasma Levels
Renal clearance of a drug is influenced by various factors, including its physicochemical properties and plasma levels. These factors play a significant role in determining how efficiently the kidneys eliminate a drug.
One important factor is the drug's molecular size. The kidneys readily excrete smaller molecules below 300 Daltons (Da). On the other hand, molecules weighing between 300 and 500 Da are excreted through both urine and bile. Larger molecules above 500 Da tend to be excreted less...
One important factor is the drug's molecular size. The kidneys readily excrete smaller molecules below 300 Daltons (Da). On the other hand, molecules weighing between 300 and 500 Da are excreted through both urine and bile. Larger molecules above 500 Da tend to be excreted less...
01:23Renal Clearance
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a critical marker of kidney function, reflecting the efficiency of filtration by the glomeruli. Renal clearance of specific substances, such as inulin or creatinine, is commonly used to measure GFR.
Renal clearance refers to the volume of plasma cleared of a specific substance, such as creatinine, per unit of time. To measure clearance, urine samples are collected over a 24-hour period during each bladder voiding, followed by a single blood sample at the...
Renal clearance refers to the volume of plasma cleared of a specific substance, such as creatinine, per unit of time. To measure clearance, urine samples are collected over a 24-hour period during each bladder voiding, followed by a single blood sample at the...
01:06Drug Elimination: The Concept of Clearance
Drug elimination refers to removing drugs from the body, either through urine by the kidneys or through bile by the liver. Drug clearance is a pharmacokinetic parameter that measures the efficiency of drug removal from the bloodstream within a specific time frame. It is calculated as the rate at which a drug is eliminated from plasma divided by the plasma concentration of the drug.
Drug clearance is not limited to renal excretion but encompasses all organs involved in drug elimination,...
Drug clearance is not limited to renal excretion but encompasses all organs involved in drug elimination,...
01:08Renal Drug Clearance: Comparison Between Renal Excretion Methods
Renal clearance is a critical parameter encompassing kidney filtration, secretion, and reabsorption processes. It is calculated using a specific equation to determine the rate at which the kidneys clear a drug.
Renal clearance is often associated with the renal glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which represents the rate at which plasma is filtered through the glomeruli in the kidney. When drug reabsorption is minimal and there is no active secretion, renal clearance is closely related to the...
Renal clearance is often associated with the renal glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which represents the rate at which plasma is filtered through the glomeruli in the kidney. When drug reabsorption is minimal and there is no active secretion, renal clearance is closely related to the...
01:09Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Drug Distribution and Drug Interactions
Renal clearance plays a pivotal role in drug elimination from the body and can be influenced by drug distribution and interactions. Understanding these factors is crucial in pharmacology as they impact the effectiveness and duration of drug therapy.
One important factor is the relationship between renal clearance and the apparent volume of distribution. Renal clearance tends to be inversely proportional to the apparent volume of distribution. Drugs with an extensive distribution volume or those...
One important factor is the relationship between renal clearance and the apparent volume of distribution. Renal clearance tends to be inversely proportional to the apparent volume of distribution. Drugs with an extensive distribution volume or those...