Université de Fribourg

Innovative preclinical models for pulmonary drug delivery research

Ehrmann, Stephan ; Schmid, Otmar ; Darquenne, Chantal ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Sznitman, Josue ; Yang, Lin ; Barosova, Hana ; Vecellio, Laurent ; Mitchell, Jolyon ; Heuze-Vourc’h, Nathalie

In: Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2020, vol. 17, no. 4, p. 463–478

Introduction: Pulmonary drug delivery is a complex field of research combining physics which drive aerosol transport and deposition and biology which underpins efficacy and toxicity of inhaled drugs. A myriad of preclinical methods, ranging from in- silico to in-vitro, ex–vivo and in-vivo, can be implemented.Areas covered: The present review covers in-silico mathematical and computational...

Université de Fribourg

An in vitro lung system to assess the proinflammatory hazard of carbon nanotube aerosols

Barosova, Hana ; Karakocak, Bedia Begum ; Septiadi, Dedy ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Stone, Vicki ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, vol. 21, no. 15, p. 5335

In vitro three-dimensional (3D) lung cell models have been thoroughly investigated in recent years and provide a reliable tool to assess the hazard associated with nanomaterials (NMs) released into the air. In this study, a 3D lung co-culture model was optimized to assess the hazard potential of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which is known to provoke inflammation and fibrosis,...

Université de Fribourg

Rapid and sensitive quantification of cell-associated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Steinmetz, Lukas ; Bourquin, Joel ; Barosova, Hana ; Haeni, Laetitia ; Caldwell, Jessica ; Milosevic, Ana ; Geers, Christoph ; Bonmarin, Mathias ; Taladriz-Blanco, Patricia ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara ; Petri-Fink, Alke

In: Nanoscale, 2020, vol. 12, no. 33, p. 17362–17372

Evaluating nanomaterial uptake and association by cells is relevant for in vitro studies related to safe-by-design approaches, nanomedicine or applications in photothermal therapy. However, standard analytical techniques are time-consuming, involve complex sample preparation or include labelling of the investigated sample system with e.g. fluorescent dyes. Here, we explore lock-in...

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

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

Use of EpiAlveolar lung model to predict fibrotic potential of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Barosova, Hana ; Maione, Anna G. ; Septiadi, Dedy ; Sharma, Monita ; Haeni, Laetitia ; Balog, Sandor ; O’Connell, Olivia ; Jackson, George R. ; Brown, David ; Clippinger, Amy J. ; Hayden, Patrick ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Stone, Vicki ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: ACS Nano, 2020, vol. 14, no. 4, p. 3941–3956

Expansion in production and commercial use of nanomaterials increases the potential human exposure during the lifecycle of these materials (production, use, and disposal). Inhalation is a primary route of exposure to nanomaterials; therefore it is critical to assess their potential respiratory hazard. Herein, we developed a three-dimensional alveolar model (EpiAlveolar) consisting of human...

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

Biological response of an in vitro human 3D lung cell model exposed to brake wear debris varies based on brake pad formulation

Barosova, Hana ; Chortarea, Savvina ; Peikertova, Pavlina ; J. D. Clift, Martin ; Petri-Fink, Alke ; Kukutschova, Jana ; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara

In: Archives of Toxicology, 2018, vol. 92, no. 7, p. 2339–2351

Wear particles from automotive friction brake pads of various sizes, morphology, and chemical composition are significant contributors towards particulate matter. Knowledge concerning the potential adverse effects following inhalation exposure to brake wear debris is limited. Our aim was, therefore, to generate brake wear particles released from commercial low-metallic and non-asbestos organic...

Université de Fribourg

Characteristics and properties of nano-LiCoO2 synthesized by pre-organized single source precursors: Li-ion diffusivity, electrochemistry and biological assessment

Brog, Jean?Pierre ; Crochet, Aurélien ; Seydoux, Joël ; Clift, Martin J. D. ; Baichette, Benoît ; Maharajan, Sivarajakumar ; Barosova, Hana ; Brodard, Pierre ; Spodaryk, Mariana ; Züttel, Andreas ; Rothen?Rutishauser, Barbara ; Kwon, Nam Hee ; Fromm, Katharina M.

In: Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2017, vol. 15, p. 58

LiCoO₂ is one of the most used cathode materials in Li-ion batteries. Its conventional synthesis requires high temperature (>800 °C) and long heating time (>24 h) to obtain the micronscale rhombohedral layered high-temperature phase of LiCoO₂ (HT-LCO). Nanoscale HT-LCO is of interest to improve the battery performance as the lithium (Li⁺) ion pathway is expected to be shorter in...