Metal oxide nanoparticles – ubiquitous and widely used as food coloring (Food coloring and Certain Food Nanoparticles can affect the Human gut) and industrial preservatives – can damage and destroy parts of the human gastrointestinal tract, according to new research by scientists from Cornell University in Binghamton.
Their work was published in February 9 in the Journal of Antioxidants.
“We discovered that some nanoparticles – titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide – which are commonly used in food can affect the function of the intestines in a negative way,” said the author Elad Tako, a specialist in food science. in the College of Agriculture, and Life Sciences said. “They have a negative effect on digestive and absorptive proteins.”
In their research, the team used human-matched doses of titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide in Tako Lab’s in vivo system, which produces a medical response similar to that of the human body.
Scientists injected nanoparticles into chicken eggs. After the chickens, the scientists discovered functional, morphological and microbial biomarkers changes in the blood, duodenum (large intestine) and cecum (small pouch connected to the intestine).
Scientists have discovered changes in the structure of the bacteria that cause intestinal infections. Animal transport is affected and the membrane of the plant’s border (digestive and absorptive surface of the intestine) is damaged.
“We eat these nanoparticles every day,” said Tako, a faculty member at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. “We don’t really know how much we are spending; we don’t really know the long term effects of this consumption. Here, we can show some of these effects, which are important for understanding the health and development of the intestine.
Additionally, the team looked at zinc oxide, micronutrients, and iron oxide, an iron-fortifying supplement. Zinc oxide nanoparticles support the development of the intestine, and the compensatory process that follows the damage of the intestine. Iron oxide nanoparticles are a potential option for iron fortification, but there are changes in intestinal function and health.
Previously, Binghamton scientists conducted in vitro cellular experiments and analyzed various nanoparticles commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The team limited their research to small metal oxide nanoparticles and made sure that they tested a treatment that was suitable for humans.
“Between our two universities, our research has taken a positive approach that complements each other,” Gretchen Mahler, Ph.D. ’08, professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton and acting vice provost and dean. said doctoral.
“We use our in vitro intestinal model of the small intestine to conduct research on nanoparticle research,” Mahler said. “We were able to correct what we saw in vitro using the Elad Tako animal model.”
Scientists do not recommend stopping the use of these nanoparticles.
“Based on the information, we recommend that you know,” Tako said. “Scientists need to do more research based on our findings. We are open for discussion.
In addition to Tako and Mahler, the authors include Cornell doctoral students Jacquelyn Cheng (first author) and Nikolai Kolba; Binghamton postdoctoral fellow Alba García-Rodríguez; and Cláudia Marques, associate professor of science at Binghamton.
Courtesy: Cornell university
