Mechanisms of Fibre Toxicity (cross-Unit project)

MRC毒理学小组的一个主要研究重点是揭示用于现代制造的颗粒物如何与人体相互作用，以及如何帮助防止其有害影响。其中一些颗粒(例如碳纳米管)在物理和生物特性上与石棉相似，石棉是众所周知的人类肺部疾病的原因。与石棉纤维接触相关的最严重的疾病是石棉肺、恶性间皮瘤和肺癌，它们通常在潜伏期20-40年后显现。越来越多的人担心，纳米颗粒可能会产生毒性效应，导致类似的石棉相关疾病的发生。通过将尖端技术应用于这一毒理学问题，目的是确定导致颗粒毒性的潜在关键驱动因素，并将这一知识应用于告知纳米颗粒的“设计安全”，从而减少其潜在的长期不利影响。

A major research focus of the MRC Toxicology Unit aims to uncover how particles used for modern manufacturing interact with the body and how to help prevent their harmful effects. Some of these particles (e.g. carbon nanotubes) are similar in their physical and biological properties to asbestos, a well-known cause of human lung disease. The most severe illnesses associated with asbestos fibre exposure are asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, and they usually manifest themselves after 20-40 years of latency. There is rising concern that nanoparticles may drive toxic effects leading to the onset of similar asbestos-related diseases. By applying cutting-edge technologies to this toxicological question the aim is to identify potential key drivers of particle toxicity and apply this knowledge to inform ‘safe by design’ of nanoparticles, thereby reducing their potential long-term adverse effects.