Use of in vitro models of human lung to differentiate “good” and “bad” particles.

The lung is a structurally complex organ, enabling effective gas exchange whilst protecting from microbial infection and tissue damage that might occur following inhalation of a wide variety of airborne particles. Airborne engineered nanoparticles could easily access the deep lung and might cause local and/or systemic effects, reflecting their small size and bioreactivity with the alveolar unit. To examine these interactions in vitro, we have utilized primary human lung cells, alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AT2), alveolar macrophages (AM), fibroblasts and microvascular endothelial cells, and a transformed hum…