4 research outputs found
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Development and characterization of a Versatile Engineered Nanomaterial Generation System (VENGES) suitable for toxicological studies
A novel system for generation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) suitable for in situ toxicological characterization within biological matrices was developed. This Versatile Engineered Nanomaterial Generation System (VENGES) is based on industry-relevant, flame spray pyrolysis aerosol reactors that can scaleably produce ENMs with controlled primary and aggregate particle size, crystallinity, and morphology. ENMs are produced continuously in the gas phase, allowing their continuous transfer to inhalation chambers, without altering their state of agglomeration. Freshly generated ENMs are also collected on Teflon filters for subsequent physicochemical and morphological characterization and for in vitro toxicological studies. The ability of the VENGES system to generate families of ENMs of pure and selected mixtures of iron oxide, silica, and nanosilver with controlled physicochemical properties was demonstrated using a range of state-of-the-art-techniques. Specific surface area was measured by nitrogen adsorption using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, and crystallinity was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Particle morphology and size were evaluated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The suitability of the VENGES system for toxicological studies was also shown in both in vivo and in vitro studies involving Sprague-Dawley rats and human alveolar-like monocyte derived macrophages, respectively. We demonstrated linkage between physicochemical ENM properties and potential toxicity
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Engineering safer-by-design silica-coated ZnO nanorods with reduced DNA damage potential
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles absorb UV light efficiently while remaining transparent in the visible light spectrum rendering them attractive in cosmetics and polymer films. Their broad use, however, raises concerns regarding potential environmental health risks and it has been shown that ZnO nanoparticles can induce significant DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Even though research on ZnO nanoparticle synthesis has made great progress, efforts on developing safer ZnO nanoparticles that can maintain their inherent optoelectronic properties while exhibiting minimal toxicity are limited. Here, a safer-by-design concept was pursued by hermetically encapsulating ZnO nanorods in a biologically inert, nanothin amorphous SiO2 coating during their gas-phase synthesis. It is demonstrated that the SiO2 nanothin layer hermetically encapsulates the core ZnO nanorods without altering their optoelectronic properties. Furthermore, the effect of SiO2 on the toxicological profile of the core ZnO nanorods was assessed using the Nano-Cometchip assay by monitoring DNA damage at a cellular level using human lymphoblastoid cells (TK6). Results indicate significantly lower DNA damage (>3 times) for the SiO2-coated ZnO nanorods compared to uncoated ones. Such an industry-relevant, scalable, safer-by-design formulation of nanostructured materials can liberate their employment in nano-enabled products and minimize risks to the environment and human health
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Assessing the impact of engineered nanoparticles on wound healing using a novel in vitro bioassay
AIM:
As engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) increasingly enter consumer products, humans become increasingly exposed. The first line of defense against ENPs is the epithelium, the integrity of which can be compromised by wounds induced by trauma, infection, or surgery, but the implications of ENPs on wound healing are poorly understood.
MATERIALS & METHODS:
Herein, we developed an in vitro assay to assess the impact of ENPs on the wound healing of cells from human cornea.
RESULTS & DISCUSSION:
We show that industrially relevant ENPs impeded wound healing and cellular migration in a manner dependent on the composition, dose and size of the ENPs as well as cell type. CuO and ZnO ENPs impeded both viability and wound healing for both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Carboxylated polystyrene ENPs retarded wound healing of corneal fibroblasts without affecting viability.
CONCLUSION:
Our results highlight the impact of ENPs on cellular wound healing and provide useful tools for studying the physiological impact of ENPs