View article
Nanopinion: Recent progress towards microbiota-inclusive nanosafety research
How can host-associated microbiota affect the toxicity of nanoparticles? In this guest column, Dr Bregje Brinkmann discusses the direct interactions between microbiota, the host, and nanoparticles. Additionally, she elaborates on the latest research conducted on this subject.
“All multicellular organisms host microbes on their tissues, and these microbes jointly make up the host-associated microbiota. Microbes are important to the health of organisms and play a crucial role at the exposure interface with nanoparticles. [..] Recent advances in the nanosafety field have shown that host-associated microbiota can significantly affect the toxicity of nanoparticles. Mechanistically, this has mainly been explained by the intricate interactions between the host and microbes that colonize the exposure interface.”
Background
The EUON Nanopinion is a platform where different contributors ranging from policymakers and authorities to industry and civil society such as NGOs and researchers, share their views on their work and priorities related to nanomaterials in the EU.
Join the conversation in our LinkedIn group.
If you have a topic that you would like to see featured on the EUON Nanopinions, read these guidelines (PDF) and send us your topic proposal.