Important nanotoxicology study to further examine effects of nanoparticles on human cells 12/04/2013 - 00:00 "Several studies on NPs have examined how tissues react in contact with these tiny foreign bodies," said Girard. "Researchers have found that eosinophils flock to the contact site, but they have not examined the phenomenon in greater detail." To further investigate why eosinophils come into contact with NPs and the role they play, protocols require expertise in both nanotoxicology and immunology, which is rare.The immunology professor has this expertise, as he has already studied the effects of NPs on other human immune cells (neutrophils) as part of a complementary project. His team is working to establish an NP inflammatory scale. "In this research protocol, I get my colleagues at the Centre involved in a very special way—they agree to give blood!" said Girard. "By collecting blood, we can also collect eosinophils for the new research component."
