Cross-species comparisons of nanoparticle interactions with innate immune systems: a methodological review

Many components of the innate immune system are evolutionarily conserved and shared across many living organisms, from plants and invertebrates to humans. Therefore, these shared features can allow the comparative study of potentially dangerous substances, such as engineered nanoparticles (NPs). However, differences of methodology and procedure between diverse species and models make comparison of innate immune responses to NPs between organisms difficult in many cases. To this aim, this review provides an overview of suitable methods and assays that can be used to measure NP immune interactions across species in a multidisciplinary approach. The first part of this review describes the main innate immune defense characteristics of the selected models that can be associated to NPs exposure. In the second part, the different modes of exposure to NPs across models (considering isolated cells or whole organisms) and the main endpoints measured are discussed. In this synergistic perspective, we provide an overview of the current state of important cross-disciplinary immunological models to study NP-immune interactions and identify future research needs. As such, this paper could be used as a methodological reference point for future nano-immunosafety studie

Addressing nanomaterial immunosafety by evaluating innate immunity across living species

The interaction of a living organism with external foreign agents is a central issue for its survival and adaptation to the environment. Nanosafety should be considered within this perspective, and it should be examined that how different organisms interact with engineered nanomaterials (NM) by either mounting a defensive response or by physiologically adapting to them. Herein, the interaction of NM with one of the major biological systems deputed to recognition of and response to foreign challenges, i.e., the immune system, is specifically addressed. The main focus is innate immunity, the only type of immunity in plants, invertebrates, and lower vertebrates, and that coexists with adaptive immunity in higher vertebrates. Because of their presence in the majority of eukaryotic living organisms, innate immune responses can be viewed in a comparative context. In the majority of cases, the interaction of NM with living organisms results in innate immune reactions that eliminate the possible danger with mechanisms that do not lead to damage. While in some cases such interaction may lead to pathological consequences, in some other cases beneficial effects can be identified

Music to Make Things To (part 1)

Live stream performance commissioned by The Meteor Theatre Created during the 2020 Lockdown. Utilising performance ideas to inspire a period of combined art making. Sharing an art experience through technology A musical exploration of internet based collaboration in realtime through long-form musical textures and structured improvisation. A compositional realisation of slow music. A meditative type of musical structure that is predicated by the limitations of technology, and informed by traditions of ambient music, soundscape, minimalism and contemporary classical music. Live streamed with technical assistance from ACL

Music to Make Things To (part 2)

Live stream performance commissioned by The Nancy Caiger Gallery Created during the 2020 Lockdown. Utilising performance ideas to inspire a period of combined art making. Sharing an art experience through technology A musical exploration of internet based collaboration in realtime through long-form musical textures and structured improvisation. A compositional realisation of slow music. A meditative type of musical structure that is predicated by the limitations of technology, and informed by traditions of ambient music, soundscape, minimalism and contemporary classical music

Invisible Matter

Visual and musical collaborative art making with Paul Bradley, Craig McClure, Kirke Godfrey and Jeremy Mayall Utilising performance ideas to inspire a period of combined art making. Sharing an art experience through technology A musical exploration of internet based collaboration in realtime through long-form musical textures and structured improvisation. A compositional realisation of slow music. A meditative type of musical structure that is predicated by the limitations of technology, and informed by traditions of ambient music, soundscape, minimalism and contemporary classical music

Textures and Particles

Visual and musical collaborative art making with Paul Bradley, Craig McClure, Kirke Godfrey and Jeremy Mayall. Part of the Drawing and Sounds concert series. Utilising performance ideas to inspire a period of combined art making. Sharing an art experience through technology A musical exploration of internet based collaboration in realtime through long-form musical textures and structured improvisation. A compositional realisation of slow music. A meditative type of musical structure that is predicated by the limitations of technology, and informed by traditions of ambient music, soundscape, minimalism and contemporary classical music

Stressor-dependant changes in immune parameters in the terrestrial isopod crustacean, porcellio scaber : a focus on nanomaterials

We compared the changes of selected immune parameters of Porcellio scaber to different stressors. The animals were either fed for two weeks with Au nanoparticles (NPs), CeO2 NPs, or Au ions or body-injected with Au NPs, CeO2 NPs, or lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Contrary to expec-tations, the feeding experiment showed that both NPs caused a significant increase in the total hae-mocyte count (THC). In contrast, the ion-positive control resulted in a significantly decreased THC. Additionally, changes in phenoloxidase (PO)-like activity, haemocyte viability, and nitric oxide (NO) levels seemed to depend on the stressor. Injection experiments also showed stressor-depend-ant changes in measured parameters, such as CeO2 NPs and lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS), caused more significant responses than Au NPs. These results show that feeding and injection of NPs caused an immune response and that the response differed significantly, depending on the exposure route. We did not expect the response to ingested NPs, due to the low exposure concentrations (100 μg/g dry weight food) and a firm gut epithelia, along with a lack of phagocytosis in the digestive system, which would theoretically prevent NPs from crossing the biological barrier. It remains a challenge for future research to reveal what the physiological and ecological significance is for the organism to sense and respond, via the immune system, to ingested foreign material

Formation and evolution of the nanoparticle environmental corona: The case of Au and humic acid

Studying the behaviour of nanomaterials after their release into natural water is essential to understand the risk associated to their environmental exposure. In particular, the interaction and adsorption of dissolved organic matter onto nanoparticles strongly influence the behaviour and fate of nanomaterials in natural water systems. We herein study the interaction of Au and Ag nanoparticles and humic acids, the principal component of natural dissolved organic matter. Physicochemical characterization results showed the formation of an organic matter corona, consisting of two layers: a “hard” one, firmly bound to the nanoparticle surface, and a “soft” one, in dynamic equilibrium and, consequently, highly dependent on the media organic matter concentration. The extent of the electro-steric stabilization of the so called environmental corona depends on the size of the supramolecular association of humic acid (which depends on its hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties), the nanoparticle size, the total concentration of organic matter in the media, and the ratio between them. Interestingly, environmental coronas can eventually prevent Ca2+ and Mg2+ induced aggregation at concentrations range present in most of the freshwater bodies. The humic coating formed on top of the Au or control Ag nanoparticles presented a similar profile, but the corrodibility of Ag led to a more natural detachment of the corona. These results were further confirmed by exposing the nanoparticles to a model of natural water and standard mud (LUFA 2.2 dispersion). In the latter case, after several days, nanoparticle sedimentation was observed, which was attributed to interactions with macro organic and inorganic matter (fraction larger than particulate matter).We acknowledge financial support from the Pandora European Training Network (GA-671881) funded in the framework of H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN programme, Spanish MINECO (MAT2015-70725-R), and from the Catalan Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) (2017-SGR-1431). N.G.B. acknowledges financial support by MINECO through the Ramon y Cajal program (RYC-2012- 10991). ICN2 is supported by the Severo Ochoa program from Spanish MINECO (Grant No. SEV-2017-0706) and is funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe