Nancy Monteiro-Riviere Frontiers in Nanotoxicology of the Skin

Nancy Monteiro-Riviere – Frontiers in nanotoxicology of the skin

Created by Larissa Williams and Demi Cheng

Learning Objectives:

Understand the broad utility of nanoparticles in our everyday lives.
Describe the various types of nanoparticles used in consumer products.
Describe what factors affect absorption and penetration of nanoparticles on skin.
Describe the methods, and their appropriate controls, used to study absorption and penetration of nanomaterials on skin.
Understand the benefits and limitations of in vitro models

Recommended prerequisite topics

Basic concepts of skin biology
Dose response

Study questions

Why is porcine skin used to model human skin toxicants?
What are some toxicological differences between silver, titanium, and zinc nanoparticles?
Why are nanoparticles used in our everyday lives? What are some of their uses?
What are two common in vitro assays used to study nanoparticle toxicity? What are their limitations?
What controls should be used when studying nanoparticles and why?
What physical-chemical properties affect the toxicity of nanoparticles?

Application of this Lecture to Vision and Change Core Concepts and Competencies.

Core Concepts
Evolution / The lecture emphasizes on using different angle to view and study the toxicity of these nanomaterials from traditional chemicals.
Structure and Function / The lecture provides information about the applications of nanomaterials based its specific properties.
The lecture describes the unique physiochemical properties of nanomaterials and their effects on physiological and biological responses.
Information flow, exchange, and storage / The lecture discusses various in vitro and in vivo assays and techniques for studying the dermal toxicity of nanomaterials by using different in vitro absorption systems, biomarkers, electron microscopy, analytical chemistry, and animal model.
Pathways and transformations of energy and matter
Systems
Core Competencies
Ability to apply the process of science. / At the beginning of lecture, background information of nanomaterials and its history provide excellent understanding into the process of science.
Ability to use quantitative reasoning
Ability to use modeling and simulation
Ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science / It requires knowledges of physics, chemistry, biology, and physiology to study the toxicity of nanomaterials
Ability to communicate and collaborate with other disciplines / The toxicity of nanomaterials depends on it physiochemical properties. To study these, it requires interdisciplinary collaboration and discussion.
Ability to understand the relationship of science and society

Vision and Change Core Concepts.

Evolution. The diversity of life evolved over time by processes of mutation, selection, and genetic change.
Structure and Function. Basic units of structure define the function of all living things.
Information flow, exchange, and storage. The growth and behavior of organisms are activated through the expression of genetic information in context.
Pathways and transformations of energy and matter. Biological systems grow and change by processes based upon chemical transformation pathways and are governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
Systems. Living systems are interconnected and interacting.

Core Competencies and Disciplinary Practice.

Ability to apply the process of science. Biology is evidence based and grounded in the formal practices of observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing.
Ability to use quantitative reasoning. Biology relies on applications of quantitative analysis and mathematical reasoning.
Ability to use modeling and simulation. Biology focuses on the study of complex systems.
Ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science. Biology is an interdisciplinary science.
Ability to communicate and collaborate with other disciplines. Biology is a collaborative scientific discipline.
Ability to understand the relationship of science and society. Biology is conducted in a societal context.