Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie L. Bergmann, Zorana J. Andersen, Andreas Massling, Paula A. Kindler, Steffen Loft, Heresh Amini, Thomas Cole-Hunter, Yuming Guo, Matija Maric, Claus Nordstrom, Mahmood Taghavi, Stephane Tuffier, Rina So, Jiawei Zhang, Youn-Hee Lim
Summary: This study examines the impact of short-term exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) on mortality and hospital admissions in Copenhagen. The findings suggest that UFP exposure is associated with increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Nguyen Dang Khoa, Sixiao Li, Nguyen Lu Phuong, Kazuki Kuga, Hidetake Yabuuchi, Keiko Kan-O, Koichiro Matsumoto, Kazuhide Ito
Summary: This study used the CFPD method to investigate the deposition characteristics of ultrafine-to-coarse particles in the human respiratory tract. The results showed that ultrafine and fine particles predominantly deposited in the 8th generation, while coarse particles mainly deposited in the 6th generation. The right lower lobe had a higher deposition rate for coarse particles, while the left upper-lower and right lower lobes simultaneously had high deposition rates for ultrafine particles.
COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nobuyuki Takegawa, Anna Nagasaki, Akihiro Fushimi, Yuji Fujitani, Yoshiko Murashima, Hiromu Sakurai
Summary: We conducted field measurements and laboratory evaluations to characterize the physical and chemical properties of aircraft exhaust ultrafine particles near Narita International Airport. The results show that the volatility of aircraft exhaust UFPs is closely related to particle size and temperature.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Laura Masi, Raffaela Doro, Vanessa Di Cataldo, Giulio Francolini, Margherita Zani, Luca Visani, Icro Meattini, Lorenzo Livi
Summary: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on breast neoadjuvant CK treatments. The results indicated that in the majority of cases, respiratory compensation can be disabled without increasing uncertainties and reducing treatment time, provided that fiducial intra-fraction tracking is performed to account for baseline drift. The dosimetric effects are mostly not clinically relevant.
PHYSICA MEDICA-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Carlo D'Alicandro, Alessandro Mauro
Summary: The study aims to analyze the effectiveness of three different ventilation systems in controlling UFP transport and deposition in operating rooms. The results show that both laminar airflow and turbulent mixing airflow systems can effectively remove UFPs and ensure a low particle deposition rate compared to the evacuation rate. In addition, the choice of instrument table position also affects the deposition of UFPs, CFUs, and contaminants, and the UFP concentration at the height of the surgical staff's head cannot be neglected for health-related risks.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongjin Li, Xiaoling Li, Hongmei Zheng, Lijuan Liu, Yihan Wu, Yufeng Zhou, Xia Meng, Jianguo Hong, Lanfang Cao, Yanming Lu, Xiaoyan Dong, Min Xia, Bo Ding, Liling Qian, Libo Wang, Wenhao Zhou, Yonghao Gui, Haidong Kan, Renjie Chen, Xiaobo Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of ultrafine particles on emergency-department visits for pediatric respiratory diseases. Results showed that UFP was associated with increased risks of emergency-department visits for all respiratory diseases, especially within cumulative lags of 0-2 days.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Qi, Shuting Wei, Yucai Chen, Yichen Pu, Sijin Liu, Yajun Liu
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests a strong connection between air pollution and arthropathy. This study investigates the direct threat of exotic particles to joints and identifies the sources of these particles in knee joint effusions of osteoarthritis patients. Animal experiments demonstrate the translocation of inhaled particles into the joint, resulting in significant injuries to the synovium and cartilage. Isotope-labelling confirms the invasion of particles in the joints and provides the kinetics of retention. These findings provide direct evidence of the intrusion of exotic particles into joint cavities and highlight the adverse effects of air pollution on joint health.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Teemu Lepisto, Luis M. F. Barreira, Aku Helin, Jarkko V. V. Niemi, Niina Kuittinen, Henna Lintusaari, Ville Silvonen, Lassi Markkula, Hanna E. Manninen, Hilkka Timonen, Pasi Jalava, Sanna Saarikoski, Topi Ronkko
Summary: Urban air fine particles pose a significant health-related problem, but there is a lack of understanding on how to monitor their health-relevant features. This study characterized urban wintertime aerosols in three different environments and found significant variations in particle characteristics and lung deposited surface area. The findings highlight the importance of particle number monitoring in relation to local pollution sources for assessing health effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Maximilian Schwarz, Alexandra Schneider, Josef Cyrys, Susanne Bastian, Susanne Breitner, Annette Peters
Summary: This study examined the association between short-term exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) and cause-specific mortality in three German cities. The risk of respiratory mortality increased within 1 week after exposure to UFPs, while no clear associations were found for cardiovascular or natural mortality. These findings provide evidence for the independent health effects of UFPs.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seyoung Kim, Daniel J. Fesenmeier, Sungwan Park, Sandra E. Torregrosa-Allen, Bennett D. Elzey, You-Yeon Won
Summary: This study investigates the clearance pathways and kinetics of amphiphilic poly(styrene-block-ethylene glycol) (PS-PEG) nanoparticles in the lungs. The results demonstrate that PS-PEG nanoparticles have a prolonged retention time in the lungs and are cleared through both mucociliary escalator mechanism and alveolar clearance by macrophages. Additionally, a portion of the nanoparticles translocates directly into the circulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. J. R. van der Leij, J. C. M. Vernooij, C. M. Vinke, R. J. Corbee, J. W. Hesselink
Summary: Shelter metrics are important for shelters to assess and improve the health of their animal population and to identify risk factors for disease outbreaks. This study used Dutch shelter data to analyze trends and apply relevant metrics for shelter management of cats over a 16-year period. The findings showed a decrease in the number of cats admitted to shelters, a reduction in feline euthanasia cases, a decrease in length of stay, and an increase in return to owner and risk-based live release rate. These metrics are helpful for monitoring and evaluating shelter management and the well-being of cats in both the Netherlands and Europe.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Josue Sznitman
Summary: This review discusses the current understanding of airflow and aerosol transport in the deep lungs, focusing on the advancements brought by experimental and numerical simulation efforts. Microfluidic-based platforms in the past decade have provided opportunities for in vitro solutions that accurately capture respiratory airflow and aerosol transport mechanisms at true scale.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chen Juhui, Yang Tianyi, Li Dan, Li Jiahao, Han Changliang, Yu Guangbin, Zhao Chenxi, Liu Xiaogang
Summary: In this study, the Euler-Euler gas-solid two-fluid model was employed to simulate the dynamic process of ultrafine particle movement and aggregation in an internally circulating fluidized bed. The results indicate that the breakage coefficient and inlet gas rate have significant effects on the concentration distribution of agglomerates, with higher inlet velocities resulting in better circulation of particles in the bed.
ADVANCED POWDER TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Truong Thi Huyen, Ryosuke Yamaguchi, Yuta Kurotsuchi, Kazuhiko Sekiguchi, Nghiem Trung Dung, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Ly Bich Thuy
Summary: This study investigated the behavior of fine and ultrafine particles in Hanoi, Vietnam, during summer and winter, shedding light on the contribution of secondary organic carbon to particle formation and the role of photochemical reactions in the formation of water-soluble organic carbon. The results also suggest that particle growth may be dependent on absolute humidity, while no correlation was found between relative humidity and particle chemical components.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Eleonore Froehlich
Summary: Epithelial barriers are important for maintaining homeostasis by separating the human body from the environment. The respiratory barrier, compared to other barriers like the skin and gastrointestinal tract, is the thinnest and least protective. Understanding the properties of epithelial cells and non-cellular layers can help determine the permeability of the respiratory barrier and its interactions with gases, pathogens, and drugs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana M. Milosevic, Laetitia Haeni, Liliane Ackermann Hirschi, Stefano Vanni, Pablo Campomanes-Ramos, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: Fluorescently-labelled nanoparticles show promise for tracking and detection in biological applications, but the presence of fluorescent dyes can alter nanoparticle behavior, particularly affecting interactions with biomolecules and cellular uptake.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Matthew Gibb, Ruiwen He, Alke Petri-Fink, Christie M. Sayes
Summary: Human lung tissue models can range from simple monolayer cultures to more advanced three-dimensional co-cultures to study the interactions of different types of aerosols. This review focuses on the functional and structural aspects of lung tissue and how it relates to the design of a model and the interfacial properties with the respiratory wall. The important aspects of lung model design, including scaffold choice, cell types, culture conditions, aerosol exposure methods, and endpoints are summarized, and the remaining challenges and future directions in this field are discussed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daria Korejwo, Savvina Chortarea, Chrysovalanto Louka, Marija Buljan, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Peter Wick, Tina Buerki-Thurnherr
Summary: Graphene and its derivatives have a wide range of potential applications in various fields, but it is important to understand their potential adverse effects on human health. This study used gene expression profiling to investigate the transcriptional responses and toxicity pathways induced by graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) in human macrophages. The results showed that GO and GNP caused differential expression of a large number of genes, with some overlap between the two types. Further analysis revealed that GNP mainly activated genes involved in inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, while GO had limited inflammatory responses and also affected genes related to antigen processing and presentation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanni Spiaggia, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Stefan Hengsberger, Dedy Septiadi, Christoph Geers, Aaron Lee, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: Commercial static cell culture substrates have limited representation of in vivo biomechanical cues due to their inability to change physical properties over time. Gold nanoparticles have been used as transducers to overcome this limitation. In this study, gold nanorods were embedded in an elastomeric matrix to fabricate biocompatible light-responsive substrates. The analysis of the nanocomposite films showed a homogeneous heat distribution and increased stiffness when irradiated with NIR light. These films were biocompatible and cells remained viable, exhibiting a greater proliferation rate and stronger focal adhesion clustering.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Aaron Lee, Natalia Gosnell, Daela Milinkovic, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: Localized delivery of siRNA using electrostatic interactions has been achieved by assembling siRNA with cationic polyelectrolytes to create particle-decorated surfaces, which allows for spatial control of cell responses at biomaterial interfaces. The results demonstrate that cells in contact with the particle-decorated surface can survive, internalize particles, and undergo gene silencing. This study highlights the engineering potential of particle-decorated surfaces for delivering therapeutic payloads and guiding cell responses at biointerfaces.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Manuela Estermann, Ricardo Coelho, Francis Jacob, Yen-Lin Huang, Ching-Yeu Liang, Ana Bela Faia-Torres, Dedy Septiadi, Barbara Drasler, Bedia Begum Karakocak, Irini Magdelina Dijkhoff, Alke Petri-Fink, Viola Heinzelmann-Schwarz, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
Summary: Reliable and predictive experimental models are urgently needed for studying the metastatic mechanisms of ovarian cancer cells in the omentum. The lack of certain omental cell types that influence cancer cell metastasis hinders the application of current tissue models. This study introduces a 3D multi-cellular human omentum tissue model that mimics the metastatic processes of ovarian cancer cells and allows the study of their interaction with endothelial cells and the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. This model may serve as a platform for future patient-specific investigations in personalized oncology.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jessica Caldwell, Celine Loussert-Fonta, Gaelle Toullec, Niclas Heidelberg Lyndby, Beat Haenni, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Begona Espina, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: Many researchers are studying the interaction between microplastics and marine fauna, aiming to understand exposure pathways and concentrations, as well as the impact of such interactions. This study focused on how Cassiopea andromeda jellyfish interacted with microplastics, using different analytical techniques. The results showed that the fluorescent microplastics could be successfully detected and their interaction with the jellyfish was likely influenced by the properties of the microplastics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sandeep Keshavan, Anne Bannuscher, Barbara Drasler, Hana Barosova, Alke Petri-Fink, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
Summary: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal lung disease characterized by abnormal fibrotic response. The lack of understanding of its onset and progression, as well as the mechanism of adverse responses to various factors, calls for robust in vitro fibrosis models. This review summarizes recent progress in the development of such models, focusing on cell culture methods, nanomaterials, and comparative studies using cells from different species.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Mauro Sousa de Almeida, Arya Roshanfekr, Sandor Balog, Alke Petri-Fink, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
Summary: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of silica (SiO2) particles on EGFR expression and intracellular signaling pathways in A549 lung epithelial cells, in the presence or absence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). The results showed that SiO2 particle uptake interferes with cellular signaling pathways and can be boosted by concurrent exposure to the bioactive molecule EGF. In addition, the addition of EGF increased cell migration, and also stimulated cellular uptake of smaller SiO2 particles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Fabienne Schwab, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Aline Scherz, Thierry Meyer, Bedia Beguem Karakocak, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: Waste containing nanomaterials, known as nanowaste, is a global safety concern that requires specific environmentally sound waste management and regulation.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Polly McLean, William Mueller, Ilse Gosens, Flemming R. Cassee, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Matthew Boyles, Lang Tran
Summary: Toxicity assessment is shifting towards new approach methodologies, such as high-throughput in vitro models and computational tools. This study aimed to link in vitro endpoints to in vivo events and key events associated with adverse outcomes to aid in the development of testing strategies. The results showed promising correlation between in vitro cytokine secretion and in vivo pulmonary inflammation, suggesting the potential of using this as a screening tool for early stage assessment of lung inflammation in product development.
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Eva Susnik, Sandor Balog, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Alke Petri-Fink, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and intestinal epithelial cells, and found that cholera toxin subunit B (CTxB) did not significantly affect the membrane structure of differentiated Caco-2 cells or stimulate NP uptake, but it did reduce NP uptake in macrophages. The presence of CTxB was found to influence the uptake of NPs differently in phagocytic and differentiated intestine cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giulia Mirabello, Lukas Steinmetz, Christoph Geers, Barbara Rothen-Ruthishauser, Mathias Bonmarin, Alke Petri-Fink, Marco Lattuada
Summary: This work demonstrates the application of lock-in thermography (LIT) in quantifying the concentration of gold nanoparticles embedded in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. The study used films with different concentrations and sizes of gold nanoparticles and quantitatively analyzed the concentration by measuring the amplitude of the thermal signal emitted by the nanoparticles. The results showed that LIT is a reliable and non-destructive method to quantify nanoparticle concentrations and can detect concentration gradients in samples.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jessica Caldwell, Alke Petri-Fink, Celine Loussert-Fonta, Gaelle Toullec, Niclas Heidelberg Lyndby, Beat Haenni, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
Summary: Many researchers are studying the interaction between microplastics and marine fauna and working to monitor exposure pathways, concentrations, and their impacts. This study focuses on Cassiopea andromeda jellyfish, which live in (sub-)tropical coastal regions that are potentially contaminated by plastic waste. Fluorescent microplastics were detected using an optimized analytical protocol, and their interaction with the jellyfish was found to be influenced by the properties of the microplastics, such as density and hydrophobicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jessica Caldwell, Patricia Taladriz-Blanco, Laura Rodriguez-Lorenzo, Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser, Alke Petri-Fink
Summary: The presence of submicron- and nanoplastic particles has attracted increasing interest, but there are few analytical techniques capable of detecting these small plastic particles at low concentrations. This study investigates the potential of gold nanostar-based SERS substrates for the detection of submicron- and nanoplastic particles. The results demonstrate the promising potential of these substrates for nanoplastic detection, with variations in analytical performance depending on the properties of the plastics being studied.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2023)