Research Bio
Toxicology of Inhaled Ultrafine Particles and Engineered Nanomaterials
Our laboratory has focused for several years on the toxicology of inhaled ultrafine particles (UFPs), the most numerous size fraction of particulate air pollution. Interests include the impacts of age, gaseous co-pollutant exposure, and health status on the response(s) to inhaled UFPs. We are also interested in determining the basis for potential adverse effects of inhaled particles in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
This research focus has naturally led to our work with engineered nanomaterials. The research commonalities between UFP and nanomaterials are numerous, including the kinetics of tissue distribution following exposure, mechanisms of response related to oxidative stress, particle-protein interactions, and the physicochemical characteristics of the particles that determine response. Our research aims are met by using a combination of animal and cell culture models as well as detailed particle characterization.
In addition to looking for nanosized particles in tissues via chemical and microscopic means, responses are determined by measuring markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the lung lining fluid, lung tissue, blood, circulating inflammatory cells, and extrapulmonary tissues (e.g. heart, liver, spleen, kidney, brain regions). We also have specific projects focused on cardiovascular stability and neurodegeneration following exposures to UFPs and nanomaterials.
2015 Mar
Lerner CA, Sundar IK, Watson RM, Elder A, Jones R, Done D, Kurtzman R, Ossip DJ, Robinson R, McIntosh S, Rahman I. "Environmental health hazards of e-cigarettes and their components: Oxidants and copper in e-cigarette aerosols." Environmental pollution. 2015 Mar; 198:100-7. Epub 2015 Jan 09. |
2014 Apr
Gordon SC, Butala JH, Carter JM, Elder A, Gordon T, Gray G, Sayre PG, Schulte PA, Tsai CS, West J. "Workshop report: strategies for setting occupational exposure limits for engineered nanomaterials." Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP. 2014 Apr; 68(3):305-11. Epub 2014 Jan 23. |
2014 Apr
Sotiriou GA, Watson C, Murdaugh KM, Darrah TH, Pyrgiotakis G, Elder A, Brain JD, Demokritou P. "Engineering safer-by-design, transparent, silica-coated ZnO nanorods with reduced DNA damage potential." Environmental science. Nano. 2014 Apr; 1(2):144-153. |
2014
Baisch BL, Corson NM, Wade-Mercer P, Gelein R, Kennell AJ, Oberdörster G, Elder A. "Equivalent titanium dioxide nanoparticle deposition by intratracheal instillation and whole body inhalation: the effect of dose rate on acute respiratory tract inflammation." Particle and fibre toxicology. 2014 11:5. Epub 2014 Jan 24. |
2013 Sep
Baer DR, Engelhard MH, Johnson GE, Laskin J, Lai J, Mueller K, Munusamy P, Thevuthasan S, Wang H, Washton N, Elder A, Baisch BL, Karakoti A, Kuchibhatla SV, Moon D. "Surface characterization of nanomaterials and nanoparticles: Important needs and challenging opportunities." Journal of vacuum science & technology. A, Vacuum, surfaces, and films : an official journal of the American Vacuum Society. 2013 Sep; 31(5):50820. Epub 2013 Aug 27. |
