INOS – Identification and Assessment of the Effects of Engineered NanOparticleS on Human and Environmental Health
INOS (Jan 2006 – Apr 2009), has developed methods based on in-vitro testing for evaluating the hazard potential of engineered nanoparticles. The hazards analysis was based on a comprehensive investigation into the behaviour of nanoparticles and the changes they undergo in different cell culture media, their reaction with cytosol components such as salts and proteins, changes in pH and the interaction of nanoparticles with cells as a function of their size, physicochemical nature and surface composition.
Research concentrated on ceramic and metallic particles such as diamond, tungsten carbide, titanium dioxide, titanium carbon nitride, cobalt, platinum, ceramic metal compounds, as well as carbon nanotubes and carbon black. The materials differ in structure, chemical bonding and chemical stability, as well as in their dissolution and dispersion behaviour in aqueous media so that clear differences were expected in the reactions of cells with these particles. Scientists hope to be able to transfer and apply the knowledge they gain here to the testing of other materials.
Various human and animal cells, such as pulmonary and intestinal epithelial cells, epidermis cells, neurons and glial cells were used as cell lines or primary cells for cytotoxicological investigations. Vitality, general stress response (e.g. changes in protein expression), oxidative stress, inflammatory and immune modulating effects, gene toxicity, cell death, etc. will be examined.
