TY - JOUR A1 - Krause, B. A1 - Meyer, T. A1 - Sieg, H. A1 - Kästner, Claudia A1 - Reichardt, P. A1 - Tentschert, J. A1 - Jungnickel, H. A1 - Estrela-Lopis, I. A1 - Burel, A. A1 - Chevance, S. A1 - Gauffre, F. A1 - Jalili, P. A1 - Meijer, J. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Fessard, V. A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Luch, A. T1 - Characterization of aluminum, aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide nanomaterials using a combination of methods for particle surface and size analysis JF - RSC Advances N2 - The application of appropriate analytical techniques is essential for nanomaterial (NM) characterization. In this study, we compared different analytical techniques for NM analysis. Regarding possible adverse health effects, ionic and particulate NM effects have to be taken into account. As NMs behave quite differently in physiological media, special attention was paid to techniques which are able to determine the biosolubility and complexation behavior of NMs. Representative NMs of similar size were selected: aluminum (Al0) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), to compare the behavior of metal and metal oxides. In addition, titanium dioxide (TiO2) was investigated. Characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were evaluated with respect to their suitability for fast characterization of nanoparticle dispersions regarding a particle's hydrodynamic diameter and size distribution. By application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the single particle mode (SP-ICP-MS), individual nanoparticles were quantified and characterized regarding their size. SP-ICP-MS measurements were correlated with the information gained using other characterization techniques, i.e. transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The particle surface as an important descriptor of NMs was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). NM impurities and their co-localization with biomolecules were determined by ion beam microscopy (IBM) and confocal Raman microscopy (CRM). We conclude advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques applied and suggest options for their complementation. Thus, this paper may serve as a practical guide to particle characterization techniques. KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - SAXS PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-447057 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA00205C SN - 2046-2069 VL - 8 IS - 26 SP - 14377 EP - 14388 PB - The Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-44705 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sieg, H. A1 - Braeuning, C. A1 - Kunz, B. M. A1 - Daher, H. A1 - Kästner, C. A1 - Krause, B.-C. A1 - Meyer, T. A1 - Jalili, P. A1 - Kogeveen, K. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Lichtenstein, D. A1 - Burel, A. A1 - Chevance, S. A1 - Jungnickel, H. A1 - Tentschert, J. A1 - Laux, P. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Gauffre, F. A1 - Fessard, V. A1 - Meijer, J. A1 - Estrela-Lopis, I. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Luch, A. A1 - Lampen, A. T1 - Uptake and molecular impact of aluminum-containing nanomaterials on human intestinal caco-2 cells JF - Nanotoxicology N2 - Aluminum (Al) is one of the most common elements in the earth crust and increasingly used in food, consumer products and packaging. Its hazard potential for humans is still not completely understood. Besides the metallic form, Al also exists as mineral, including the insoluble oxide, and in soluble ionic forms. Representatives of these three species, namely a metallic and an oxidic species of Al-containing nanoparticles and soluble aluminum chloride, were applied to human intestinal cell lines as models for the intestinal barrier. We characterized physicochemical particle parameters, protein corona composition, ion release and cellular uptake. Different in vitro assays were performed to determine potential effects and molecular modes of Action related to the individual chemical species. For a deeper insight into signaling processes, microarray transcriptome analyses followed by bioinformatic data analysis were employed. The particulate Al species showed different solubility in biological media. Metallic Al nanoparticles released more ions than Al2O3 nanoparticles, while AlCl3 showed a mixture of dissolved and agglomerated particulate entities in biological media. The protein corona composition differed between both nanoparticle species. Cellular uptake, investigated in transwell experiments, occurred predominantly in particulate form, whereas ionic Al was not taken up by intestinal cell lines. Transcellular transport was not observed. None of the Al species showed cytotoxic effects up to 200 mg Al/mL. The transcriptome analysis indicated mainly effects on oxidative stress pathways, xenobiotic metabolism and metal homeostasis. We have shown for the first time that intestinal cellular uptake of Al occurs preferably in the particle form, while toxicological effects appear to be ion-related. KW - Small-angle x-ray scattering KW - SAXS KW - Nanopatricle PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/17435390.2018.1504999 SN - 1743-5390 VL - 12 IS - 9 SP - 992 EP - 1013 PB - Taylor & Francis AN - OPUS4-47432 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sieg, H. A1 - Klusmann, L. A1 - Ellermann, A. L. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Braeuning, A. T1 - Counterions determine uptake and effects of aluminum in human intestinal and liver cells JF - Toxicology in Vitro N2 - Aluminum (Al) is highly abundant in the biosphere and can occur in different physico-chemical states. It is present in human food and undergoes transitions between dissolved and particulate species during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, in a complex matrix such as food different inorganic and organic counterions can affect the chemical behavior of Al following oral uptake. In this work, the effects of different counterions, namely chloride, citrate, sulfate, lactate and acetylacetonate, on Al uptake and toxicity in the human intestine are studied. The respective Al salts showed different dissolution behavior in biological media and formed nanoscaled particles correlating in reverse with the amount of their dissolved fraction. The passage through the intestinal barrier was studied using a Caco-2 Transwell® system, showing counterion-dependent variance in cellular uptake and transport. In addition, Al toxicity was investigated using Al species (Al3+, metallic Al0 and oxidic γAl2O3 nanoparticles) and counterions individually or in mixtures on Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. The strongest toxicity was observed using a combination of Al species, depending on solubility, and the lipophilic counterion acetylacetonate. Notably, only the combination of both led to toxicity, while both substances individually did not show toxic effects. A toxification of previously non-toxic Al-species by the presence of acetylacetonate is shown here for the first time. The dependency on the concentration of free Al ions was demonstrated using sodium hydrogen phosphate, which was able to counteract the toxic effects by complexing free Al ions. These findings, using Al salts as an example for a common food contaminant, underline the importance of a consideration of the chemical properties of human nutrition, especially dissolution and hydrophobicity, which can significantly influence the cellular uptake and effects of xenobiotic substances. KW - SAXS KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105295 VL - 79 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-54110 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 JF - ACS Applied Nano Materials 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 DO - 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 JF - Langmuir 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 DO - 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 - Stock, V. A1 - Fahrenson, C. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Donmez, M. H. A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Bohmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - Impact of artificial digestion on the sizes and shapes of microplastic particles JF - Food and chemical toxicology N2 - Current analyses show a widespread occurrence of microplastic particles in food products and raise the question of potential risks to human health. Plastic particles are widely considered to be inert due to their low chemical reactivity and therefore supposed to pose, if at all only minor hazards. However, variable physicochemical conditions during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract gain strong importance, as they may affect particle characteristics. This study aims to analyze the impact of the gastrointestinal passage on the physicochemical particle characteristics of the five most produced and thus environmentally relevant plastic materials polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subsequent image analysis were employed to characterize microplastic particles. Our results demonstrate a high resistance of all plastic particles to the artificial digestive juices. The present results underline that the main stages of the human gastrointestinal tract do not decompose the particles. This allows a direct correlation between the physicochemical particle characteristics before and after digestion. Special attention must be paid to the adsorption of organic compounds like proteins, mucins and lipids on plastic particles since it could lead to misinterpretations of particle sizes and shapes. KW - Artificial digestion KW - Gastrointestinal barrier KW - Microplastic KW - Oral uptake KW - Particle size PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.111010 VL - 135 SP - 111010 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-49999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Hoche, E. A1 - Stock, V. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - Intestinal and hepatic effects of iron oxide nanoparticles JF - Archives of Toxicology N2 - Iron oxide nanoparticles gain increasing attention due to their broad industrial use. However, safety concerns exist since their effects on human cells are still under investigation. The presence of iron oxide nanoparticles in the food pigment E172 has been shown recently. Here, we studied four iron oxide nanoparticles, one food pigment E172 and the ionic control FeSO4 regarding dissolution in biological media, uptake and transport, and cellular effects in vitro in human intestinal Caco-2 and HepaRG hepatocarcinoma cells. The iron oxide nanoparticles passed the gastrointestinal passage without dissolution and reached the intestine in the form of particles. Minor uptake was seen into Caco-2 cells but almost no transport to the basolateral site was detected for any of the tested particles. HepaRG cells showed higher particle uptake. Caco-2 cells showed no alterations in reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis, or mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas two particles induced apoptosis in HepaRG cells, and one altered mitochondrial membrane potential at non-cytotoxic concentrations. No correlation between physicochemical particle characteristics and cellular effects was observed, thus emphasizing the Need for case-by-case assessment of iron oxide nanoparticles. KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-521651 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-020-02960-7 VL - 95 IS - 3 SP - 895 EP - 905 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-52165 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 JF - Food Chemistry 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 DO - 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 - TY - JOUR A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Saloga, Patrick E. J. A1 - Stock, V. A1 - Böhmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - Environmental impact of ZnO nanoparticles evaluated by in vitro simulated digestion JF - ACS Applied Nano Materials N2 - ZnO nanoparticles are found in different food and consumer products, and their toxicological effects are still under investigation. It is therefore important to understand their behavior in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we used an in vitro model to assess the physicochemical fate of ZnO nanoparticles during the digestive process in artificial saliva, stomach juice, and intestinal juice. Atomic absorption spectrometry and small-angle X-ray scattering were employed to investigate two ZnO nanomaterials, one intensively characterized reference material and soluble ZnCl2 in a broad range of concentrations between 25 and 1000 μg/mL in the intestinal fluid. Because food components may influence the behavior of nanomaterials in the gastrointestinal tract, starch, milk powder, and olive oil were used to mimic carbohydrates, protein, and fat, respectively. Additionally, ion release of all Zn species was assessed in cell culture media and compared to artificial intestinal juice to investigate relevance of typical cell culture conditions in ZnO nanotoxicology. ZnCl2 as well as the ZnO species were present as particles in artificial saliva but were solubilized completely in the acidic stomach juice. Interestingly, in the intestinal fluid a concentration-independent de novo formation of particles in the nanoscale range was shown. This was the case for all particles as well as for ZnCl2, regardless of the concentration used. Neither of the food components affected the behavior of any Zn species. On the contrary, all Zn species showed a Zn-concentration-dependent ion release in common cell culture medium. This questions the suitability of cell culture studies to investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on intestinal cells. Our results show that Zn-containing nanoparticles reach the intestine. This underlines the importance of determining the influence of the test environment on nanoparticle fate. KW - SAXS KW - Digestion KW - Zinc oxide KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b02236 VL - 3 IS - 1 SP - 724 EP - 733 AN - OPUS4-50288 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -