Project R-9730

An in depth localisation study of silver nanoparticles in pluripotent stem cells and developing tissues of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, an invertebrate model system for toxicological studies. (Research)

Because of their small size, nanoparticles (particles smaller than 100 nm) exhibit a large surface area and high chemical reactivity which makes them suitable for a larger spectrum of applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in particular are incorporated in numerous consumer products like paints, food containers, clothing and surgical instruments. Despite their potential benefits, there are certain health risks involved in the use of nanosilver. In order to contribute to a thorough risk analysis, our lab is currently assessing the biocompatibility of AgNPs with our toxicological model organism Schmidtea mediterranea, a free-living flatworm that allows the assessment of toxicity in general and on pluripotent stem cells in particular. First results show that AgNPs have significant effects on brain development and stem cell functioning. The next logical step is to investigate how AgNPs are taken up by the tissues, in which (type of) cells they end up and how their presence contributes to the observed adverse outcomes. The aim of the current proposal is to locate the particles in different cells by labelling the tissue with fluorescence probes targeted to specific cell types. AgNPs are visualised via their plasmonic excited fluorescence at 405 nm. In addition, we propose to use serial block phase scanning microscopy to investigate where AgNPs are located on a subcellular level and whether or not they cause effects to the subcellular structure.

01 January 2019 - 30 June 2022