1
|
Mullins M, Himly M, Llopis IR, Furxhi I, Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Wick P, Romeo D, Küehnel D, Siivola K, Catalán J, Hund-Rinke K, Xiarchos I, Linehan S, Schuurbiers D, Bilbao AG, Barruetabeña L, Drobne D. (Re)Conceptualizing decision-making tools in a risk governance framework for emerging technologies-the case of nanomaterials. Environ Syst Decis 2022; 43:3-15. [PMID: 35912374 PMCID: PMC9309004 DOI: 10.1007/s10669-022-09870-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The utility of decision-making tools for the risk governance of nanotechnology is at the core of this paper. Those working in nanotechnology risk management have been prolific in creating such tools, many derived from European FP7 and H2020-funded projects. What is less clear is how such tools might assist the overarching ambition of creating a fair system of risk governance. In this paper, we reflect upon the role that tools might and should play in any system of risk governance. With many tools designed for the risk governance of this emerging technology falling into disuse, this paper provides an overview of extant tools and addresses their potential shortcomings. We also posit the need for a data readiness tool. With the EUs NMP13 family of research consortia about to report to the Commission on ways forward in terms of risk governance of this domain, this is a timely intervention on an important element of any risk governance system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mullins
- Transgero Limited, Cullinagh, Newcastle West, Co., Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Accounting and Finance, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Martin Himly
- Department of Biosciences, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Isabel Rodríguez Llopis
- GAIKER Technology Centre, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, (BRTA) ES, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Irini Furxhi
- Transgero Limited, Cullinagh, Newcastle West, Co., Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Accounting and Finance, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Sabine Hofer
- Department of Biosciences, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Norbert Hofstätter
- Department of Biosciences, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter Wick
- Particles-Biology Interactions Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Daina Romeo
- Particles-Biology Interactions Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Dana Küehnel
- Department Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology (BIOTOX), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kirsi Siivola
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, Box 40, 00032 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Julia Catalán
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Työterveyslaitos, Box 40, 00032 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics, University of Zaragoza, Saragossa, Spain
| | - Kerstin Hund-Rinke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany
| | - Ioannis Xiarchos
- Research Lab of Advanced Composite, Nanomaterials, and Nanotechnology (R-NanoLab), School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou str, 15780 Zographos, Athens Greece
| | - Shona Linehan
- Management, Cairnes School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Daan Schuurbiers
- De Proeffabriek Josef Israelslaan 63, NL-6813 JB Arnhem, The Netherlands
| | - Amaia García Bilbao
- GAIKER Technology Centre, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, (BRTA) ES, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Leire Barruetabeña
- GAIKER Technology Centre, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, (BRTA) ES, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Damjana Drobne
- Department Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Punz B, Hasenkopf I, Johnson L, Himly M. Immunotoxicity of nanomaterials in health and disease: Current challenges and emerging approaches for identifying immune modifiers in susceptible populations. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2022; 14:e1804. [PMID: 36416020 PMCID: PMC9787548 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanosafety assessment has experienced an intense era of research during the past decades driven by a vivid interest of regulators, industry, and society. Toxicological assays based on in vitro cellular models have undergone an evolution from experimentation using nanoparticulate systems on singular epithelial cell models to employing advanced complex models more realistically mimicking the respective body barriers for analyzing their capacity to alter the immune state of exposed individuals. During this phase, a number of lessons were learned. We have thus arrived at a state where the next chapters have to be opened, pursuing the following objectives: (1) to elucidate underlying mechanisms, (2) to address effects on vulnerable groups, (3) to test material mixtures, and (4) to use realistic doses on (5) sophisticated models. Moreover, data reproducibility has become a significant demand. In this context, we studied the emerging concept of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) from the perspective of immune activation and modulation resulting in pro-inflammatory versus tolerogenic responses. When considering the interaction of nanomaterials with biological systems, protein corona formation represents the relevant molecular initiating event (e.g., by potential alterations of nanomaterial-adsorbed proteins). Using this as an example, we illustrate how integrated experimental-computational workflows combining in vitro assays with in silico models aid in data enrichment and upon comprehensive ontology-annotated (meta)data upload to online repositories assure FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability). Such digital twinning may, in future, assist in early-stage decision-making during therapeutic development, and hence, promote safe-by-design innovation in nanomedicine. Moreover, it may, in combination with in silico-based exposure-relevant dose-finding, serve for risk monitoring in particularly loaded areas, for example, workplaces, taking into account pre-existing health conditions. This article is categorized under: Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Hofer
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Norbert Hofstätter
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Benjamin Punz
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Ingrid Hasenkopf
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Litty Johnson
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Martin Himly
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Biosciences & Medical BiologyParis Lodron University of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hofstätter N, Hofer S, Duschl A, Himly M. Children's Privilege in COVID-19: The Protective Role of the Juvenile Lung Morphometry and Ventilatory Pattern on Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Respiratory Epithelial Barriers and Disease Severity. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1414. [PMID: 34680531 PMCID: PMC8533273 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of severe COVID-19 in children is low, and underlying mechanisms for lower SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and self-limiting disease severity are poorly understood. Severe clinical manifestations in adults require SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in the lower respiratory tract, establishing a pulmonary disease phase. This may be either accomplished by direct inoculation of the thoracic region upon exposure to virion-laden aerosols, or by infection of the upper respiratory system and aspiration of virion-laden aerosols originating right there into the lower respiratory tract. The particularities of epithelial barriers as the anatomical site of first viral deposition specifically determine the initial characteristics of an innate immune response, emerging respiratory tissue damage and dysfunctionality, and hence, severity of clinical symptoms. We, thus, investigated by in silico modeling whether the combined effect of juvenile lung morphometry, children's ventilatory pattern and the peculiarities of the virion-laden aerosols' properties, render children more resilient to aerosol deposition in the lower respiratory tract. Our study presents evidence for major age-dependent differences of the regional virion-laden aerosol deposition. We identified deposition hotspots in the alveolar-interstitial region of the young adult. Our data reveal that children are void of corresponding hotspots. The inoculum quantum in the alveolar-interstitial region hotspots is found to be considerably related to age. Our results suggest that children are intrinsically protected against SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in the lower respiratory tract, which may help to explain the lower risk of severe clinical manifestations associated with a pulmonary phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martin Himly
- Department of Biosciences, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (N.H.); (S.H.); (A.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Johnson L, Aglas L, Soh WT, Geppert M, Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Briza P, Ferreira F, Weiss R, Brandstetter H, Duschl A, Himly M. Structural Alterations of Antigens at the Material Interface: An Early Decision Toolbox Facilitating Safe-by-Design Nanovaccine Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10895. [PMID: 34639235 PMCID: PMC8509464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanomaterials have found extensive interest in the development of novel vaccines, as adjuvants and/or carriers in vaccination platforms. Conjugation of protein antigens at the particle surface by non-covalent adsorption is the most widely used approach in licensed particulate vaccines. Hence, it is essential to understand proteins' structural integrity at the material interface in order to develop safe-by-design nanovaccines. In this study, we utilized two model proteins, the wild-type allergen Bet v 1 and its hypoallergenic fold variant (BM4), to compare SiO2 nanoparticles with Alhydrogel® as particulate systems. A set of biophysical and functional assays including circular dichroism spectroscopy and proteolytic degradation was used to examine the antigens' structural integrity at the material interface. Conjugation of both biomolecules to the particulate systems decreased their proteolytic stability. However, we observed qualitative and quantitative differences in antigen processing concomitant with differences in their fold stability. These changes further led to an alteration in IgE epitope recognition. Here, we propose a toolbox of biophysical and functional in vitro assays for the suitability assessment of nanomaterials in the early stages of vaccine development. These tools will aid in safe-by-design innovations and allow fine-tuning the properties of nanoparticle candidates to shape a specific immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Martin Himly
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (L.J.); (L.A.); (W.T.S.); (M.G.); (S.H.); (N.H.); (P.B.); (F.F.); (R.W.); (H.B.); (A.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Duschl A, Himly M. SARS-CoV-2-Laden Respiratory Aerosol Deposition in the Lung Alveolar-Interstitial Region Is a Potential Risk Factor for Severe Disease: A Modeling Study. J Pers Med 2021; 11:431. [PMID: 34069409 PMCID: PMC8159114 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11050431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, predominantly a mild disease, is associated with more severe clinical manifestation upon pulmonary involvement. Virion-laden aerosols and droplets target different anatomical sites for deposition. Compared to droplets, aerosols more readily advance into the peripheral lung. We performed in silico modeling to confirm the secondary pulmonary lobules as the primary site of disease initiation. By taking different anatomical aerosol origins into consideration and reflecting aerosols from exhalation maneuvers breathing and vocalization, the physicochemical properties of generated respiratory aerosol particles were defined upon conversion to droplet nuclei by evaporation at ambient air. To provide detailed, spatially-resolved information on particle deposition in the thoracic region of the lung, a top-down refinement approach was employed. Our study presents evidence for hot spots of aerosol deposition in lung generations beyond the terminal bronchiole, with a maximum in the secondary pulmonary lobules and a high preference to the lower lobes of both lungs. In vivo, initial chest CT anomalies, the ground glass opacities, resulting from partial alveolar filling and interstitial thickening in the secondary pulmonary lobules, are likewise localized in these lung generations, with the highest frequency in both lower lobes and in the early stage of disease. Hence, our results suggest a disease initiation right there upon inhalation of virion-laden respiratory aerosols, linking the aerosol transmission route to pathogenesis associated with higher disease burden and identifying aerosol transmission as a new independent risk factor for developing a pulmonary phase with a severe outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Martin Himly
- Department of Biosciences, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (S.H.); (N.H.); (A.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Himly M, Geppert M, Hofer S, Hofstätter N, Horejs-Höck J, Duschl A. When Would Immunologists Consider a Nanomaterial to be Safe? Recommendations for Planning Studies on Nanosafety. Small 2020; 16:e1907483. [PMID: 32239645 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201907483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is professional in recognizing and responding to non-self, including nanomaterials. Immune responses by professional and nonprofessional immune cells are thus nearly inevitable upon exposure of cells and organisms to such materials. The state of research into taking the immune system into account in nanosafety studies is reviewed and three aspects in which further improvements are desirable are identified: 1) Due to technical limitations, more stringent testing for endotoxin contamination should be made. 2) Since under overdose conditions immunity shows unphysiological responses, all doses used should be justified by being equivalent to tissue-delivered doses. 3) When markers of acute inflammation or cell stress are observed, functional assays are necessary to distinguish between homeostatic fluctuation and genuine defensive or tolerogenic responses. Since immune activation can also indicate that the immune system considers a stimulus to be harmless and induces tolerance, activation markers by themselves do not necessarily imply a danger to the body. Guidelines such as these are necessary to approach the point where specific nanomaterials are classified as safe based on reliable testing strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Himly
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Mark Geppert
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Sabine Hofer
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Norbert Hofstätter
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Jutta Horejs-Höck
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| | - Albert Duschl
- Department for Biosciences & Allergy Cancer BioNano Research Centre, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Strasse 34, Salzburg, 5020, Austria
| |
Collapse
|