Abstract: Biological effects of nanoparticles in the human body are determined by similar parameters as conventional molecules, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Exposure via inhalation, oral ingestion and contact with the skin are the most relevant portals of entry for environmental and medical nanoparticles. The pulmonary epithelium is the most permeable and the most vulnerable among these barriers and particles may induce cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects particularly in the deep lung. Relevant factors for physiologically relevant assessment of pulmonary exposure will be addressed, such as specific culture conditions (air-liquid interface culture), mono- and co-culture (epithelial cells and macrophages) and types of particle administration (as aerosol and dispersion in simulated lung fluid). In addition, models for the assessment of repeated exposure will be described.

Biography: Eleonore Fröhlich finished studies of Biochemistry (Diploma) and Medicine (MD) at the Universities Tübingen and Heidelberg (Germany). She specialized in Anatomy, Histology and Embryology in 2001 and obtained her experience in toxicity testing (2004-2006) as group leader at the biotech company ORIDIS Biomed in Graz (Austria). Since 2007, she is Director of the Core Facility Imaging at the Medical University of Graz, Center for Medical Research and extraordinary professor at the Institute of Anatomy of the University Tübingen. Eleonore Fröhlich since 2013 is Key researcher at the K1 Competence Center for Excellent Technologies (COMET) Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering in Graz and president of the Animal Welfare Body of the Medical University of Graz. She (co)authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and acted as reviewer for >150 scientific journals in the fields of toxicology, pharmacy and endocrinology and for >20 funding agencies. She is Associate Editor/Section Editor of Nanomaterials, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Current Pharmaceutical Design, Journal of Nanoparticle Research and Medicine. Her research activities focus on in vitro toxicity testing (mode of action studies, regulatory testing, and physiologically relevant culture models) and biological aspects of pulmonary delivery of drugs.