TY - JOUR A1 - Kromer, Ch. A1 - Schwibbert, K. A1 - Gadicherla, A. K. A1 - Thiele, D. A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Luch, A. A1 - Tschiche, H. R. T1 - Monitoring and imaging pH in biofilms utilizing a fluorescent polymeric nanosensor N2 - Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and in the man-made environment. Given their harmful effects on human health, an in-depth understanding of biofilms and the monitoring of their formation and growth are important. Particularly relevant for many metabolic processes and survival strategies of biofilms is their extracellular pH. However, most conventional techniques are not suited for minimally invasive pH measurements of living biofilms. Here, a fluorescent nanosensor is presented for ratiometric measurements of pH in biofilms in the range of pH 4.5–9.5 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nanosensor consists of biocompatible polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with pH-inert dye Nile Red and is surface functionalized with a pH-responsive fluorescein dye. Its performance was validated by fluorometrically monitoring the time-dependent changes in pH in E. coli biofilms after glucose inoculation at 37 °C and 4 °C. This revealed a temperature-dependent decrease in pH over a 4-h period caused by the acidifying glucose metabolism of E. coli. These studies demonstrate the applicability of this nanosensor to characterize the chemical microenvironment in biofilms with fluorescence methods. KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Signal enhancement KW - Sensor KW - Quantum yield KW - Synthesis KW - Nanoparticle KW - Nano KW - Polymer KW - Ph KW - Biofilm KW - MIC KW - Corrosion KW - Microorganism KW - Bacteria PY - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550751 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Nature Publishing Group CY - London AN - OPUS4-55075 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sieg, H. A1 - Krause, B.-C. A1 - Kästner, Claudia A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Lichtenstein, D. A1 - Tentschert, J. A1 - Jungnickel, H. A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Fessard, V. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Luch, A. A1 - Lampen, A. T1 - Cellular Effects of In Vitro-Digested Aluminum Nanomaterials on Human Intestinal Cells N2 - Aluminum (Al) can be taken up from food, packaging, or the environment and thus reaches the human gastrointestinal tract. Its toxic potential after oral uptake is still discussed. The fate of different solid and ionic Al species during the passage through the digestive tract is the focus of this research, as well as the cellular effects caused by these different Al species. The present study combines the physicochemical processing of three recently studied Al species (metallic Al0, mineral Al2O3, and soluble AlCl3) in artificial digestion fluids with in vitro cell systems for the human intestinal barrier. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) methods were used to characterize the Al species in the artificial digestion fluids and in cell culture medium for proliferating and differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. Cytotoxicity testing and cellular impedance measurements were applied to address the effects of digested Al species on cell viability and cell proliferation. Microarray-based transcriptome analyses and quantitative real-time PCR were conducted to obtain a deeper insight into cellular mechanisms of action and generated indications for cellular oxidative stress and an influence on xenobiotic metabolism, connected with alterations in associated signaling pathways. These cellular responses, which were predominantly caused by formerly ionic Al species and only at very high concentrations, were not impacted by artificial digestion. A two-directional conversion of Al between ionic species and solid particles occurred throughout all segments of the gastrointestinal tract, as evidenced by the presence of nanoscaled particles. Nevertheless, this presence did not increase the toxicity of the respective Al species. KW - SAXS KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b02354 VL - 3 IS - 3 SP - 2246 EP - 2256 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-50632 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sieg, H. A1 - Kästner, Claudia A1 - Krause, B. A1 - Meyer, T. A1 - Burel, A. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Lichtenstein, D. A1 - Jungnickel, H. A1 - Tentschert, J. A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Estreal-Lopis, I. A1 - Gauffre, F. A1 - Fessard, V. A1 - Meijer, J. A1 - Luch, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Lampen, A. T1 - Impact of an artificial digestion procedure on aluminum-containing nanomaterials N2 - Aluminum has gathered toxicological Attention based on relevant human exposure and its suspected hazardous potential. Nanoparticles from food supplements or Food contact materials may reach the human gastrointestinal tract. Here, we monitored the physicochemical fate of aluminum containing nanoparticles and aluminum ions when passaging an in vitro model of the human gastrointestinal tract. Smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ion beam microscopy (IBM), secondary ion beam mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the singleparticle mode were employed to characterize two aluminumcontaining nanomaterials with different particle core materials (Al0, γAl2O3) and soluble AlCl3. Particle size and shape remained unchanged in saliva, whereas strong Agglomeration of both aluminum nanoparticle species was observed at low pH in gastric fluid together with an increased ion release. The levels of free aluminum ions decreased in intestinal fluid and the particles deagglomerated, thus liberating primary particles again. Dissolution of nanoparticles was limited and substantial changes of their shape and size were not detected. The amounts of particle-associated phosphorus, chlorine, potassium, and calcium increased in intestinal fluid, as compared to nanoparticles in standard dispersion. Interestingly, nanoparticles were found in the intestinal fluid after addition of ionic aluminum. We provide a comprehensive characterization of the fate of aluminum nanoparticles in simulated gastrointestinal fluids, demonstrating that orally ingested nanoparticles probably reach the intestinal epithelium. The balance between dissolution and de novo complex formation should be considered when evaluating nanotoxicological experiments. KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - SAXS KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02729 SN - 1520-5827 SN - 0743-7463 VL - 33 IS - 40 SP - 10726 EP - 10735 PB - Americal Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-42438 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Hsiao, I-L. A1 - Ebisch, Maximilian A1 - Vidmar, J. A1 - Dreiack, N. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Stock, V. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Loeschner, K. A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - The presence of iron oxide nanoparticles in the food pigment E172 N2 - Iron oxides used as food colorants are listed in the European Union with the number E172. However, there are no specifications concerning the fraction of nanoparticles in these pigments. Here, seven E172 products were thoroughly characterized. Samples of all colors were analyzed with a Broad spectrum of methods to assess their physico-chemical properties. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), zeta-potential, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) and in vitro cell viability measurements were used. Nanoparticles were detected in all E172 samples by TEM or SAXS measurements. Quantitative results from both methods were comparable. Five pigments were evaluated by TEM, of which four had a size median below 100 nm, while SAXS showed a size median below 100 nm for six evaluated pigments. Therefore, consumers May be exposed to iron oxide nanoparticles through the consumption of food pigments. KW - SAXS KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127000 VL - 327 SP - 127000 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-50810 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -