Université de Fribourg

Combined exposure of diesel exhaust particles and respirable Soufrière Hills volcanic ash causes a (pro-)inflammatory response in an in vitro multicellular epithelial tissue barrier model

Tomašek, Ines ; Horwell, Claire J. ; Damby, David E. ; Barošová, Hana ; Geers, Christoph ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Clift, Martin J. D.

In: Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 2016, vol. 13, p. 67

There are justifiable health concerns regarding the potential adverse effects associated with human exposure to volcanic ash (VA) particles, especially when considering communities living in urban areas already exposed to heightened air pollution. The aim of this study was, therefore, to gain an imperative, first understanding of the biological impacts of respirable VA when exposed...

Université de Fribourg

An in vitro testing strategy towards mimicking the inhalation of high aspect ratio nanoparticles

Endes, Carola ; Schmid, Otmar ; Kinnear, Calum ; Mueller, Silvana ; Camarero-Espinosa, Sandra ; Vanhecke, Dimitri ; Foster, E. Johan ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Weder, Christoph ; Clift, Martin J.D.

In: Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 2015, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 40

The challenge remains to reliably mimic human exposure to high aspect ratio nanoparticles (HARN) via inhalation. Sophisticated, multi-cellular in vitro models are a particular advantageous solution to this issue, especially when considering the need to provide realistic and efficient alternatives to invasive animal experimentation for HARN hazard assessment. By incorporating a systematic test-bed...