NSF 15-022 Fate of aerosolized Nanoparticles: The influence of surface active substances on lung deposition and respiratory effects (NANOaers)

在过去的几十年里，纳米技术得到了极大的发展。在使效益最大化的同时，也需要使纳米技术的风险最小化。当前纳米技术的主要研究方向之一是优化纳米材料的新特性以提高生活质量。pi将研究公众和工作场所接触纳米粒子的例子，特别是那些含有银（Ag）或铈（Ce）的纳米粒子。两者都很便宜，而且产量很大。含银纳米粒子因其杀死微生物的能力而被用于医疗用品、化妆品和纺织品。含有氧化铈的纳米颗粒被用于抛光玻璃镜子、电脑芯片和眼科镜片。pi寻求开发技术来解释纳米颗粒的行为，并控制这些产品在生产、使用和处置过程中的人类暴露。该提案的一个重要特点是，它将来自美国的研究人员纳入一个国际财团，该财团包括德国、罗马尼亚、奥地利和西班牙。因此，pi将更好地了解它如何影响与颗粒表面结合的磷脂和蛋白质，以及它如何影响它们的最终命运和生物效应。pi将表征人类暴露于新型纳米颗粒的特征。该研究项目将使用模型和暴露情景来阐明纳米颗粒吸入的机制。该项目将包括探索吸入的纳米颗粒沉积在哪里，它们从肺部迁移的速度有多快，以及它们在多大程度上穿过空气-血液屏障，从而进入其他器官。一个关键的问题是粒子的相互作用，因为混合物是司空见惯的。纳米颗粒暴露通常与较大的颗粒以及各种化学物质和蒸汽结合在一起。这个项目将探索微粒沉积在肺部深处后会发生什么。pi将测量纳米颗粒的大小、形态和表面组成如何决定与其表面结合的特定蛋白质和磷脂。反过来，这种结合活性将决定纳米颗粒的命运和生物反应。这项研究的目标是整合这些数据，以更好地预测纳米材料对人类或环境的风险。

Brain, Joseph1530767Nanotechnology has expanded dramatically during the past decades. While maximizing benefits, there is also a need to minimize risks of nanotechnology. One of the current major research areas in nanotechnology is to optimize novel properties of nanomaterials to improve quality of life. The PIs will study examples of public and workplace exposures to nanoparticles specifically those containing either silver (Ag) or cerium (Ce). Both are inexpensive and produced in large quantities. Silver-containing nanoparticles are used in medical supplies, cosmetics and textiles for their ability to kill microorganisms. Nanoparticles containing cerium oxide are used to polish glass mirrors, computer chips, and ophthalmic lenses. The PIs seek to develop techniques to explain nanoparticle behavior and control human exposures during production, use, and disposal of these products. An important feature of this proposal is that it involves researchers from the United States in an international consortium that includes Germany, Romania, Austria, and Spain. As a result the PIs will better understand how that affects the phospholipids and proteins that bind to particle surfaces and how that influences their ultimate fate and biological effects.The PIs will characterize human exposures to novel nanoparticles. The research project will use models and exposure scenarios to elucidate the mechanisms underlying inhalation of nanoparticles. The project will involve exploration of where inhaled nanoparticles deposit, how fast they migrate from lungs, and to what extent they cross the air-blood barrier and thus have access to other organs. A key issue is particle interactions since mixtures are commonplace. Nanoparticle exposures are is often combined with particles that are larger and with a variety of chemicals and vapors. This project will explore what happens to particles after they deposit deep in the lungs. The PIs will measure how the size, morphology, and surface composition of nanoparticles determine the specific proteins and phospholipids that bind to their surface. In turn, this binding activity will determine the fate of and biologic responses to nanoparticles. The research objective is to integrate these data to better predict risks from nanomaterials for humans or the environment.