Understanding the effects of novel nanomaterials on biological systems is a critical precursor to their further application. 2D cell monocultures are widely used in safety assessment, however, they do not represent the complex biological processes that occur within the human body. Innovative and effective in vitro cell models can more reliably predict potential human health from novel nanomaterials. This project focuses on the establishment of complex 3D cell culture models of our main physiological barriers to the outside world such as the lung, the intestine and the skin.

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Investigating the impact of microplastics (2020)

Researchers from AMI’s BioNanomaterials group have developed a new intestinal model to simulate the impact of microplastics absorbed by humans. Initial results show that these particles do not seem to provoke an immune response in the short term, but further studies are required to evaluate the effects of long-term exposures or of exposures to even smaller particle sizes.