New correlative microscopy approaches for toxicology studies of nanomaterials

A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms leading to chronic inflammation of tissues after exposure to different types of nanomaterials is greatly lacking. In the case of lung tissue, repeating events of exposure to metal-oxide or carbon nanomaterials can eventually lead to persistent inflammation and further cardiovascular diseases [1,2]. A similar outcome can occur in periprosthetic tissues suffering severe inflammation from the constant influx of metal wear debris from nearby implant materials [3].
To better understand these adverse outcomes, one needs to dig into the initial events that are formed on a molecular, nanoscale, thus requiring an advanced combination of microscopy techniques. Lately, more and more studies in live science are tackled by correlative microscopy (CM) which implements an optimal combination of complementary and advanced techniques on the same sample to be able to reveal new phenomena.
In our recent studies related to both lung and periprosthetic tissue inflammation, we show the new workflow of advanced microscopies and spectroscopies from which we have gained new structural as well as functional insights (Figure 1) [4,5]. With the combination of super-resolution optical microscopy (STED), hyperspectral and fluorescence lifetime imaging (sp-FLIM), Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) we reveal/present the new mechanisms and impact of nanomaterial interaction with lung epithelium and periprosthetic tissue, which leads to better knowledge and causal relations of the nanotoxicity on such small scales.

References:

1. X. Li, L. Jin, H. Kan, Nature 2019, 570, 437-439.
2. E. Underwood, Science 2017, 355, 342–345.
3. S.B. Goodman, J. Gallo, E. Gibon, M. Takagi, Expert Rev Med Devices 2020, 17, 41–56.
4. H. Kokot, et. al, Advanced Materials, 2020, 32, 2003913-1-15.
5. R. Podlipec, et. al, Materials, 2021, 14, 3048.