The Influence of Exogenous Particles on Saliva Rheology

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous nanoparticles on the rheological properties of artificial saliva. There are four reasons for undertaking this type of research: Firstly, the number of solid particles of various origins present in the air is still high. Secondly, nanoparticles (including silver and gold nanoparticles) are increasingly used in food packaging and can migrate into food. Thirdly, saliva is the first biological fluid that comes into contact with exogenous particles. Finally, the function of saliva is also closely related to its rheological properties. Due to the remarkable properties of nano-objects, nanoparticles of various origins in the body may cause effects that have not been realised until now. Therefore, each type of nanoparticle must be tested in terms of its impact on the body/body fluid. We used silver and gold nanoparticles because they are used in the food industry, and diesel exhaust particles because they are standard components of air pollution. The effect of various nanoparticles (e.g., their size and shape) on the rheology of saliva at two temperatures was investigated. The constants of the power law constitutive equation were also estimated. Studies showing the impact of nanoparticles on the rheology of body fluids are rare because it is one of the less obvious ways of their affecting the human body. However, the results show that nanoparticles are not neutral to the biological fluid, which may translate into a change in its properties and thus disturb its functions.