Cell experimental studies into the effects of particles

In order to model the mode of action of inflammatory particles, the Particle-Induced Cell Migration Assay (PICMA) was developed at the IPA. The test displays acute inflammatory particle effects with high differentiation, sensitivity and reproducibility, and permits classification of particles into those without effect, with medium and with strong effect.

Examination of further particles and comparison with animal and human data will be used to test the transferability of the PICMA results. Furthermore, parameters used as measures of inflammatory processes in animal or human studies can be confirmed experimentally by means of PICMA. Early non-toxic effects, indicating particle effects which in the case of chronic exposure may result in serious diseases, can be identified by means of this new method

Further Information

Loza K, Schremmer I, Bünger J, Westphal GA, Köller M, Epple M, Sengstock C. Barium sulfate micro- and nanoparticles as bioinert reference material in particle toxicology. Nanotoxicology Nanotoxicology. 2016; 10:1492-1502 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2016.1235740

Monsé C, Westphal G, Raul M, jettkant B, van Kampen V, Kendzia B, Schürmeyer L, Seifert CE, Marek EM, Wiegand F, Rosenkranz N, Wegener C, Merget R, Brüning T, Bünger J. No inflammatory effects after acute inhalation of barium sulfate particles in human volunteers. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:

Monsé C, Raulf M, Jettkant B, van Kampen V, Schürmexer L, Seifert CE, Marek, EM, Westphal G, Rosnekranz N, Merget R, Brüning T, Bünger J. Health effects after inhalation of micro- and nano-sized zinc oxide particles in human volunteers. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95: 53-65 DOI 10.1007/s00204-020-02923-y

Olejnik M, Breisch M, Sokolova V, Loza K, Prymak O, Rosnekranz N, Westphal G, Bünger J, Köller M, Sengstock C, Epple M. The effect of short silica fibers (0.3 μm 3.2 μm) on macrophages. Sci Total Environ 2021; 769: 144575 DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144575

Olejnik M, Kersting M, Rosenkranz N.; Loza, K.; Breisch, M.; Rostek, A.; Prymak, O.; Schürmeyer, L.; Westphal, G.; Köller, M.; Bünger, J.; Epple, M.; Sengstock, C. Cell-biological effects of zinc oxide spheres and rods from the nano- to the microscale at sub-toxic levels. Cell Biol Toxicol 2021; 37: 573-593 DOI 10.1007/s10565-020-09571-z

Schremmer I, Brik A, Weber DG, Rosenkranz N, Rostek A, Loza K, Brüning T, Johnen G, Epple M, Bünger J, Westphal GA. Kinetics of chemotaxis; cytokine; and chemokine release of NR8383 macrophages after exposure to inflammatory and inert granular insoluble particles. Toxicol Lett 2016; 263: 68-75 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.08.014

Tölle L, Monsé C, Rosenkranz N, Haibel N, Walter D, Bünger J, Hopp M, Westphal GA. Characterization of fiber dust resulting from recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRP) and their cell toxicity. MSCE 2022; 10: 1-16 DOI 10.4236/msce.2022.107001

Westphal GA, Schremmer I, Rostek A, Loza K, Rosenkranz N, Brüning T, Epple M, Bünger J. Particle-induced cell migration assay (PICMA): a new in vitro assay for inflammatory particle effects based on permanent cell lines Toxicol in Vitro 2015; 29: 997-1005 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2015.04.005