Université de Fribourg

Patient-derived and artificial ascites have minor effects on MeT-5A mesothelial cells and do not facilitate ovarian cancer cell adhesion

Estermann, Manuela ; Huang, Yen-Lin ; Septiadi, Dedy ; Ritz, Danilo ; Liang, Ching-Yeu ; Jacob, Francis ; Drasler, Barbara ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Heinzelmann-Schwarz, Viola ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, no. 12, p. e0241500

The presence of ascites in the peritoneal cavity leads to morphological and functional changes of the peritoneal mesothelial cell layer. Cells loose cell-cell interactions, rearrange their cytoskeleton, activate the production of fibronectin, and change their cell surface morphology in a proinflammatory environment. Moreover, ovarian cancer cell adhesion has been shown to be facilitated by...

Université de Fribourg

Increased uptake of silica nanoparticles in inflamed macrophages but not upon co-exposure to micron-sized particles

Susnik, Eva ; Taladriz-Blanco, Patricia ; Drasler, Barbara ; Balog, Sandor ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Cells, 2020, vol. 9, no. 9, p. 2099

Silica nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in various industrial and biomedical applications. Little is known about the cellular uptake of co-exposed silica particles, as can be expected in our daily life. In addition, an inflamed microenvironment might affect a NP’s uptake and a cell’s physiological response. Herein, prestimulated mouse J774A.1 macrophages with bacterial...

Université de Fribourg

An inflamed human alveolar model for testing the efficiency of anti-inflammatory drugs in vitro

Drasler, Barbara ; Karakocak, Bedia Begum ; Tankus, Esma Bahar ; Barosova, Hana ; Abe, Jun ; Sousa de Almeida, Mauro ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020, vol. 8, p. -

A large number of prevalent lung diseases is associated with tissue inflammation. Clinically, corticosteroid therapies are applied systemically or via inhalation for the treatment of lung inflammation, and a number of novel therapies are being developed that require preclinical testing. In alveoli, macrophages and dendritic cells play a key role in initiating and diminishing pro-inflammatory...

Université de Fribourg

Impact of airborne particulate matter on skin: a systematic review from epidemiology to in vitro studies

Dijkhoff, Irini M. ; Drasler, Barbara ; Karakocak, Bedia Begum ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Valacchi, Giuseppe ; Eeman, Marc ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 2020, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 35

Air pollution is killing close to 5 million people a year, and harming billions more. Air pollution levels remain extremely high in many parts of the world, and air pollution- associated premature deaths have been reported for urbanized areas, particularly linked to the presence of airborne nano-sized and ultrafine particles.Main text: To date, most of the research studies did focus on the...

Université de Fribourg

Multicellular human alveolar model composed of epithelial cells and primary immune cells for hazard assessment

Barosova, Hana ; Drasler, Barbara ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), 2020, no. 159, p. e61090

A human alveolar cell coculture model is described here for simulation of the alveolar epithelial tissue barrier composed of alveolar epithelial type II cells and two types of immune cells (i.e., human monocyte-derived macrophages [MDMs] and dendritic cells [MDDCs]). A protocol for assembling the multicellular model is provided. Alveolar epithelial cells (A549 cell line) are grown and...

Université de Fribourg

Lipid nanoparticles biocompatibility and cellular uptake in a 3D human lung model

Magalhães, Joana ; Pinheiro, Marina ; Drasler, Barbara ; Septiadi, Dedy ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Santos, Susana G ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Reis, Salette

In: Nanomedicine, 2020, vol. 15, no. 3, p. 259–271

Aim: Design nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) to facilitate drug delivery to tuberculosis-infected areas, exploiting macrophage mannose receptors and assess their uptake in a 3D human lung model. Materials & methods: NLCs and mannosylated-NLCs were synthetized and characterized. Their uptake and biocompatibility were tested in a 3D human lung model. Results: The formulations have...

Université de Fribourg

Assessment of the potential for in-plume sulphur dioxide gas-ash interactions to influence the respiratory toxicity of volcanic ash

Tomašek, Ines ; Damby, David E. ; Horwell, Claire J. ; Ayris, Paul M. ; Delmelle, Pierre ; Ottley, Christopher J. ; Cubillas, Pablo ; Casas, Ana S. ; Bisig, Christoph ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Dingwell, Donald B. ; Clift, Martin J. D. ; Drasler, Barbara ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Environmental Research, 2019, vol. 179, p. 108798

Volcanic plumes are complex environments composed of gases and ash particles, where chemical and physical processes occur at different temperature and compositional regimes. Commonly, soluble sulphate- and chloride-bearing salts are formed on ash as gases interact with ash surfaces. Exposure to respirable volcanic ash following an eruption is potentially a significant health concern. The...

Université de Fribourg

Single exposure to aerosolized graphene oxide and graphene nanoplatelets did not initiate an acute biological response in a 3D human lung model

Drasler, Barbara ; Kucki, Melanie ; Delhaes, Flavien ; Buerki-Thurnherr, Tina ; Vanhecke, Dimitri ; Korejwo, Daria ; Chortare, Savvina ; Barosova, Hana ; Hirsch, Cordula ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Wick, Peter

In: Carbon, 2018, vol. 137, p. 125–135

The increased mass production of graphene related materials (GRM), intended for a broad spectrum of applications, demands a thorough assessment of their potential hazard to humans and the environment. Particularly, the paramount concern has been expressed in regard to their interaction with the respiratory system in occupational exposure settings. It has been shown that GRM are easily...

Université de Fribourg

Carbon nanodots: Opportunities and limitations to study their biodistribution at the human lung epithelial tissue barrier

Durantie, Estelle ; Barosova, Hana ; Drasler, Barbara ; Rodriguez-Lorenzo, Laura ; Urban, Dominic A. ; Vanhecke, Dimitri ; Septiadi, Dedy ; Hirschi-Ackermann, Liliane ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Biointerphases, 2018, vol. 13, no. 6, p. 06D404

Inhalation of combustion-derived ultrafine particles (≤0.1 μm) has been found to be associated with pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. However, correlation of the physicochemical properties of carbon-based particles such as surface charge and agglomeration state with adverse health effects has not yet been established, mainly due to limitations related to the detection of carbon...

Université de Fribourg

Respiratory hazard assessment of combined exposure to complete gasoline exhaust and respirable volcanic ash in a multicellular human lung model at the air-liquid interface

Tomašeka, Ines ; J.Horwell, Claire ; Bisig, Christoph ; E.Damby, David ; Comte, Pierre ; Czerwinski, Jan ; Petri-Finkb, Alke ; J.D.Clift, Martin ; Drasler, Barbara ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Environmental Pollution, 2018, vol. 238, p. 977–987

Communities resident in urban areas located near active volcanoes can experience volcanic ash exposures during, and following, an eruption, in addition to sustained exposures to high concentrations of anthropogenic air pollutants (e.g., vehicle exhaust emissions). Inhalation of anthropogenic pollution is known to cause the onset of, or exacerbate, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It...