BME 695N Lecture 17: Assessing nanotoxicity at the single cell level

Outline:Outline – the need for single cell measures of nanotoxicity There is more than one way for a cell to die... Necrosis" vs. "Apoptosis" There are other forms of "toxicity" Some other challenges in measuring toxicity of nanomaterialsNecrosis vs. Apoptosis mechanisms Necrosis is unplanned "cell injury" Apoptosis is planned "programmed cell death" Why it is important to distinguish between necrosis and apoptosisSingle cell assays for necrosis and apoptosis Dye exclusion assays for necrosis TUNEL assays for late apoptosis Annexin V assays for early apoptosis COMET assays for DNA damage and repair Light scatter assaysNanotoxicity in vivo – some additional challenges Single cell nanotoxicity, plus.... Accumulations of nanoparticles can change toxicity locally to tissues and organs Filtration issues of nanoparticles – size matters – toxicity to liver and lung