Black phosphorus quantum dots cause glucose metabolism disorder and insulin resistance in mice

Black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) are considered to have wide application prospects due to their excellent properties. However, there is no study on the effect of BPQDs on glucose metabolism. In this study, blood glucose was significantly increased when mice were continuously intragastrically administered 0.1 and 1 mg/kg bw BPQDs. The blood glucose level of the mice was elevated from Day 7 to Day 28. BPQD exposure also decreased the area under the curve (AUC) of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). After exposure, the pancreas somatic index was increased. Moreover, the serum insulin and glucagon levels were elevated and the relative area of islet β cells was increased in BPQD-exposed mice, while insulin signaling cascades were reduced in muscle tissues. In summary, our study demonstrated for the first time that BPQD exposure induces glucose disorder and insulin resistance in muscle, which is helpful to understand the biosafety of black phosphorus nanomaterials and promote the sustainable development of nanotechnology.