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Food-borne nanomaterials: dysregulation of gut-associated immunity – Development of an in vitro test for risk assessment
Project
Project code: NFP64-3-1
Contract period: 01.12.2010
- 30.11.2013
Budget: 376,431 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
In this interdisciplinary project, we are combining the sciences of food toxicology, immunology and nanomaterials to study the effects of nanoparticles on the digestive system.
Background
The rapid increase in nanotechnology applications results in the deliberate or accidental incorporation of nanoparticles in food. This makes it all the more important to gain a better understanding of the different interactions with the intestinal immune system.
Aim
The immune system of the intestine plays a key role in regulating the interaction of our body with food constituents, and an adverse reaction in the intestine can result in severe inflammation or illnesses such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and type 1 diabetes. The study will focus on the so-called dendritic cells, which play an important regulating role in the immune system. We aim to find out how nanoparticles react with dendritic cells, whether such reactions change the immune response and what causes adverse defence reactions of the intestinal mucosa.
Significance
In this project, we will develop an in vitro test system to examine how the intestinal immune system responds to nanoparticles in food. Such a test system is essential for the safe and sustainable application of nanotechnologies in the food industry.
Section overview
Subjects
- Toxicology