Mechanisms of bioreactivity of engineered nanoparticles with pulmonary gas exchange barrier

具有肺气体交换屏障的工程纳米粒子的生物反应机制

• 批准号: G0700926/1
• 负责人: Teresa Dorothy Tetley
• 金额: $ 81.9万
• 依托单位: Imperial College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2008 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0700926%2F1
• 关键词: Mechanisms; bioreactivity; engineered; nanoparticles; pulmonary

Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging area of science involving synthesis of engineered nanoparticles that are less that the width of a hair (ie less than 100 nanometres in size). Nanoparticles are processed to form larger products which are not harmful; they are used in engineering, medicine, cosmetics and many other day-to-day products. Nanoparticles have unique properties which make them very attractive and useful in producing new products; however, the properties that make them unique may unfortunately have health effects. We know very little about the hazards or risks associated with exposure to these materials because they are so new. As nanotechnology is moving so fast it is important to establish whether nanoparticles are likely to be toxic or to have unwanted health or environmental effects. If we know this we can protect people and the environment from exposure. We know that when susceptible individuals are exposed to high levels of air pollution which contains nano-sized particles they may develop heart and lung problems and have to go to hospital and might even die. This suggests that inhalation of very small, nanosized engineered particles might cause heart and lung problems, although they have very different properties to air pollution particles. The aim is to discover whether inhaled engineered nanoparticles are harmful and whether they cause breathing or heart problems if they reach the delicate air sacs of the lung. We will use cells that line human lungs and the blood vessels of the lung. These cells will be exposed to the nanoparticles to discover whether the they are toxic and if so, how toxic and why? Do the exposed cells release molecules that might cause inflammation or blood clotting? We want to know what properties of the particles make them dangerous - are they sharp, or do they pass into the cells, or between the cells or are any particular surface chemicals responsible for nanoparticle toxicity? We will watch nanoparticles under a unique microscope to see how they alter cell behaviour. We hope to learn whether inhaled, engineered nanoparticles are likely to be harmful. If they are, is it possible to make particles that are not harmful? This information will allow us to provide guidelines on the possible risks of inhaling engineered nanoparticles, as well as preventing exposure, particularly at work, where levels may be high.

纳米技术是一个快速新兴的科学领域，涉及涉及工程纳米颗粒的合成，而纳米颗粒的宽度较小（即尺寸少于100纳米）。加工纳米颗粒以形成不有害的较大产品；它们用于工程，医学，化妆品和许多其他日常产品。纳米颗粒具有独特的特性，使其在生产新产品方面非常有吸引力和有用。但是，不幸的是，使它们独特的特性可能会产生健康影响。我们对与这些材料相关的危害或风险知之甚少，因为它们是如此新。随着纳米技术的移动如此之快，重要的是确定纳米颗粒是否可能有毒或具有不必要的健康或环境影响。如果我们知道这一点，我们可以保护人们和环境免于暴露。我们知道，当易感人群暴露于高水平的空气污染时，其中包含纳米尺寸的颗粒，他们可能会出现心脏和肺部问题，并且必须去医院，甚至可能死亡。这表明吸入非常小的纳米化工程颗粒可能会引起心脏和肺部问题，尽管它们与空气污染颗粒具有非常不同的特性。目的是发现吸入的工程纳米颗粒是否有害，以及如果它们到达肺部精致的空气囊，它们是否引起呼吸或心脏问题。我们将使用将人肺和肺血管排成一列的细胞。这些细胞将暴露于纳米颗粒上，以发现它们是否有毒，如果是，如何有毒，为什么？暴露的细胞会释放可能引起炎症或血液凝结的分子吗？我们想知道颗粒的哪些特性使它们危险 - 它们是锋利的，还是传递到细胞中，还是在细胞之间，或者任何特定的表面化学物质负责纳米颗粒毒性？我们将在独特的显微镜下观看纳米颗粒，以了解它们如何改变细胞行为。我们希望学习吸入，工程的纳米颗粒是否可能有害。如果是，是否有可能制作无害的粒子？这些信息将使我们能够提供有关吸入工程纳米颗粒的可能风险的准则，并防止暴露量，尤其是在工作中，水平可能很高。