The pharmacological and toxicological effects of polystyrene and silica nanoparticles on human airway epithelial cells

Abstract

Background and purpose: A number of lung pathologies are associated with the dysfunction of ion flux through pulmonary epithelium. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic and life-threatening genetic disease that directly affects both the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems and is caused by a defective chloride (Cl) ion channel, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR. Nanotechnology is providing researchers with new materials in the nanometer range which have the potential to provide new therapies for conditions such as CF. However, there is also much scientific data to suggest that nanoparticles (NPs)(small materials with sizes <100-nm) can induce pro-inflammatory responses in the respiratory system. Here I investigated the pharmacological and toxicological effects of polystyrene and silica nanoparticles on airway epithelial cells.