Nanotoxicology for workers and consumers’ prevention

The experience of the Laboratory for trace elements is focused on 3 main topics:

1. Evaluation of skin absorption of nanoparticles using ex-vivo approach with human or pig ear skin in Franz cells equipment. This technique permits to evaluate the capability of nanomaterials to penetrate and permeate the skin in different conditions (temperature, characteristics of nanomaterials, dissolution, size, etc.). Absorption data permits to define a possible exposure risk in exposed people. The evaluation of nanoparticles in receiving solution permit to define a flux of permeation and to study the behavior of nanoparticles tested. The research group has long experience in this topic with many published papers on impacted journals.
   
   
2. Evaluation of oral mucosa and meningeal penetration of metal nanoparticles. The technique of Franz cells is used also for pig oral mucosa and pig meningeal membrane to study the translocation of metal nanoparticles. The obtained data permits to evaluate the exposure potential in consumers exposed to foods, oral solutions, toothpastes containing nanomaterials.
   
   
3. Evaluation of workers exposure to nanoparticles via inhalation and skin contact using an integrated approach to measure the airborne exposure in term of number of nanoparticles, to evaluate their characteristics with advanced techniques (transmission electronic microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, light of synchrotron, etc.), to study the surface and skin contamination in workers. Overall data permits to define the hazard and to suggest preventive measures to be applied.
   
   

CONTACTS
Francesca Larese Filon
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences
University of Trieste
  larese@units.it