Macrophage responses to nanoclyas

The highly attractive properties of layered silicates has resulted in continuous expansion of these materials in a wide range of applications. However, their potential toxicological effects on human health are not fully investigated. Concerns, regarding layered silicates (nanoclays), are associated with their: (i) nanoscale size, (ii) high aspect ratio resulted from their platelet geometry (thickness of about 1 nm and length and/or width of up to several microns) and (iii) chemical composition.
The aim for my research is to employ a range of biological methods to assess the cytotoxicity of different types of nanoclays that are morphologically and compositionally distinct, using in vitro models of macrophages.