Public Thesis defense - LIBST

SST

28 janvier 2021

16h

Louvain-la-Neuve

will take place in the form of a video conference Teams

The physico-biochemical and toxic properties of silver nanoparticles are modulated by food and gastro-intestinal fluids: in vitro studies by Laurie LALOUX

Pour l’obtention du grade de Docteur en sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique

The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) render them highly attractive for the food sector as they allowed the development of antimicrobial coating for appliances, tableware and kitchenware as well as the production of food packaging and containers reducing microbial development. Due to their increasing incorporation in products of the food sector, AgNPs are most probably ingested by consumers and pass through their gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) before, possibly, reaching systemic circulation and tissues. Some studies have already evidenced cellular damages caused by AgNPs in different cell lines. Since this toxicity is mediated by their physico-biochemical properties, the interaction of AgNPs with food and their passage through the GIT could alter their initial properties and consequently influence their behaviour upon digestion.

The aim of this thesis consisted in the development of an in vitro method based on the incorporation of AgNPs in a standardised food matrix followed by the simulation of a pre-colonic digestion to study their behaviour in the GIT.

The first part of this thesis focuses on the physico-biochemical properties of digested AgNPs and confirmed that they could reach the gut epithelium under nanometric form, although their properties are modified by food and gastro-intestinal fluids. In a second part, after an appropriate validation of the model, the alteration of AgNPs cytotoxicity after their passage in the GIT was evidenced by using a model representing the two major cell types of the gut epithelium.

Altogether, this work revealed the need of taking the fate of nanomaterials in the GIT into account to perform accurate cytotoxicity testing as well as an appropriate risk assessment of ingested nanomaterials.

Jury members :

  • Prof. Yves-Jacques Schneider (UCLouvain), supervisor
  • Prof. Isabelle Donnay (UCLouvain), chairperson
  • Prof. Cathy Debier (UCLouvain), secretary
  • Prof. Dominique Lison (LTAP/UCLouvain, Belgium)
  • Prof. Konstantinos Gkrintzalis (Dublin City University, Ireland)
  • Prof. Arno C. Gutleb (LIST, Luxembourg)

Pay attention :

The public defense of Laurie Laloux scheduled for Thursday 28 January at 16:15 will take place in the form of a video conference Teams

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