Biodistribution and clearance of magnetoelectric nanoparticles for nanomedical applications using energy dispersive spectroscopy

Aim: The biodistribution and clearance of magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENs) in a mouse model was studied through electron energy dispersive spectroscopy. Materials & methods: This approach allows for detection of nanoparticles (NPs) in tissues with the spatial resolution of scanning electron microscopy, does not require any tissue-sensitive staining and is not limited to MENs. Results: The size-dependent biodistribution of intravenously administrated MENs was measured in vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs and brain at four different postinjection times including 1 day, 1 week, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Conclusion: The smallest NPs, 10-nm MENs, were cleared relatively rapidly and uniformly across the organs, while the clearance of the larger NPs, 100- and 600-nm MENs, was highly nonlinear with time and nonuniform across the organs.