Abstract
Increasing use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in consumer products may result in widespread human inhalation exposures. Due to their high surface area per unit mass, inhaled ENMs interact with multiple components of the pulmonary system, and these interactions affect their ultimate fate in the body. Modeling of ENM transport and clearance in vivo has traditionally treated tissues as well-mixed compartments, without consideration of nanoscale interaction and transformation mechanisms. ENM agglomeration, dissolution and transport, along with adsorption of biomolecules, such as surfactant lipids and proteins, cause irreversible changes to ENM morphology and surface properties. The model presented in this article quantifies ENM transformation and transport in the alveolar air to liquid interface and estimates eventual alveolar cell dosimetry. This formulation brings together established concepts from colloidal and surface science, physics, and biochemistry to provide a stochastic framework capable of capturing essential in vivo processes in the pulmonary alveolar lining layer. The model has been implemented for in vitro solutions with parameters estimated from relevant published in vitro measurements and has been extended here to in vivo systems simulating human inhalation exposures. Applications are presented for four different ENMs, and relevant kinetic rates are estimated, demonstrating an approach for improving human in vivo pulmonary dosimetry.
Highlights
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are becoming increasingly used in a wide array of consumer products, leading to widespread exposures of human populations [1]
A population of 100 engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is selected, and a control volume (CV) is defined, which contains these ENMs based on the concentration of the system
Due to the size and unique properties of ENMs, their interactions with various biological molecules and cells often cannot be described by simple kinetic equations
Summary
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are becoming increasingly used in a wide array of consumer products, leading to widespread exposures of human populations [1]. These products include sprays, cosmetics and clothing, greatly enhancing the potential of exposure to ENMs for individuals of all age groups. Inhalation presents the preeminent route for exposure to airborne particulates, such as pollen, soot, dust and smoke, which are often in the sub-micrometer size range. Such inhalation exposures can lead to a variety of adverse health effects, such as allergic reactions and cardiovascular effects [4]
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