Simulating Nanomaterial Transformation in Cascaded Biological Compartments to Enhance the Physiological Relevance of In Vitro Dosing Regimes: Optional or Required?

Abstract

Would an engineered nanomaterial (ENM) still have the same identity once it reaches a secondary target tissue after a journey through several physiological compartments? Probably not. Does it matter? ENM pre-treatments may enhance the physiological relevance of in vitro testing via controlled transformation of the ENM identity. The implications of material transformation upon reactivity, cytotoxicity, inflammatory, and genotoxic potential of Ag and SiO₂ ENM on advanced gastro-intestinal tract cell cultures and 3D liver spheroids are demonstrated. Pre-treatments are recommended for certain ENM only.

Keywords: engineered nanomaterial pre-treatment; gastro-intestinal digestion; in vitro hazard assessment; nanomaterials; physico-chemical characterisation.