Risk assessment of released cellulose nanocrystals – mimicking inhalatory exposure

Endes, Carola; Müller, S.; Schmid, O.; Vanhecke, Dimitri; Foster, E. Johan; Petri-Fink, Alke; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Weder, Christoph; Clift, Martin J. D.

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/429/1/012008

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Journal article

Risk assessment of released cellulose nanocrystals – mimicking inhalatory exposure

Endes, Carola Bionanomaterials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Müller, S. Polymer Chemistry and Materials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Schmid, O. Comprehensive Pneumology Centre, Institute of Lung Biology and Disease, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
Vanhecke, Dimitri Bionanomaterials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Foster, E. Johan Polymer Chemistry and Materials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Petri-Fink, Alke Bionanomaterials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara Bionanomaterials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Weder, Christoph Polymer Chemistry and Materials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Clift, Martin J. D. Bionanomaterials, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

10.04.2013

Published in:

Journal of Physics: Conference Series. - 2013, vol. 429, no. 1, p. 012008

English Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) exhibit advantageous chemical and mechanical properties that render them attractive for a wide range of applications. During the life-cycle of CNC containing materials the nanocrystals could be released and become airborne, posing a potential inhalatory exposure risk towards humans. Absent reliable and dose-controlled models that mimic this exposure in situ is a central issue in gaining an insight into the CNC-lung interaction. Here, an Air Liquid Interface Cell Exposure system (ALICE), previously designed for studies of spherical nanoparticles, was used for the first time to establish a realistic physiological exposure test method for inhaled fiber shaped nano-objects; in this case, CNCs isolated from cotton. Applying a microscopy based approach the spatially homogenous deposition of CNCs was demonstrated as a prerequisite of the functioning of the ALICE. Furthermore, reliability and controllability of the system to nebulise high aspect ratio nanomaterials (HARN, e.g. CNCs) was shown. This opens the potential to thoroughly investigate the inhalatory risk of CNCs in vitro using a realistic exposure system.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Chimie

Language