Nanoparticle titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) is a white pigment widely used in foods, sunscreens, and other cosmetic products. However, it remains unclear whether exposure to nano-TiO2 results in immunosuppressive effects or induces a contact hypersensitivity response. To address these data gaps, studies were conducted with the hypothesis that nano-TiO2 exposure could alter immune responses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElectrospun polycaprolactone (EPCL) is currently being investigated for use in tissue engineering applications such as vascular grafts. However, the effects of electrospun polymers on systemic immune responses following in vivo exposure have not previously been examined. The work presented evaluates whether EPCL in either a microfibrous or nanofibrous form affects innate, humoral and/or cell-mediated immunity using a standard immunotoxicological testing battery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough numerous models are used to evaluate the immunotoxic effects of xenobiotics on cell-mediated immunity (CMI), no holistic model for evaluating such effects on the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response has gained widespread acceptance. Due to a lack of interference from antigen-specific antibody production, the Candida albicans DTH model has recently been demonstrated to be a more appropriate model for assessing effects on CMI than other DTH models that utilize different sensitizing antigens, such as sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The present studies were conducted to validate the C.
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