Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues

Bio-based nanomaterials (B-NMs), such as silica oxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>)- and lignin (Lig)- based nanoparticles (NPs) derived from biomass waste, have gained attention in the last few years in the view of promoting the sustainability principles in several applications. However, scarce dat...

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Main Authors: Rossella Daniela Bengalli, Maurizio Gualtieri, Mariana Ornelas, Tzanko Tzanov, Paride Mantecca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/7/549
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author Rossella Daniela Bengalli
Maurizio Gualtieri
Mariana Ornelas
Tzanko Tzanov
Paride Mantecca
author_facet Rossella Daniela Bengalli
Maurizio Gualtieri
Mariana Ornelas
Tzanko Tzanov
Paride Mantecca
author_sort Rossella Daniela Bengalli
collection DOAJ
description Bio-based nanomaterials (B-NMs), such as silica oxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>)- and lignin (Lig)- based nanoparticles (NPs) derived from biomass waste, have gained attention in the last few years in the view of promoting the sustainability principles in several applications. However, scarce data are available about their safety. Thus, a hazard-testing strategy was designed considering as a reference the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework for chemicals and materials, prioritizing the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs), such as in vitro and adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) approaches, for generating data about the potential hazard of B-NMs. Literature research was performed to identify the adverse outcomes (AOs) related to the selected B-NMs. All the AOPs investigated shared at least oxidative stress, inflammation and cytotoxicity as key events (KEs) that were investigated in lung and immune cells. The tested B-NMs resulted either non-toxic or moderately toxic towards human cells, validating their biocompatibility when compared to reference NMs of similar composition, but not of bio-origin. However, attention should be given to possible AOs deriving after specific functionalization of the B-NMs. Considering the lack of knowledge in this field, the studies performed represent a step forward in the state of the art of the safety assessment of B-NMs.
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spelling doaj-art-7e5e5cf17c304c8ab2f4d8a09e4b07342025-08-20T03:03:22ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-04-0115754910.3390/nano15070549Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass ResiduesRossella Daniela Bengalli0Maurizio Gualtieri1Mariana Ornelas2Tzanko Tzanov3Paride Mantecca4POLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, ItalyPOLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, ItalyCeNTI-Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Rua Fernando Mesquita 2785, 4760-034 Vila Nova de Famalicão, PortugalGroup of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, SpainPOLARIS Research Center, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milan, ItalyBio-based nanomaterials (B-NMs), such as silica oxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>)- and lignin (Lig)- based nanoparticles (NPs) derived from biomass waste, have gained attention in the last few years in the view of promoting the sustainability principles in several applications. However, scarce data are available about their safety. Thus, a hazard-testing strategy was designed considering as a reference the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework for chemicals and materials, prioritizing the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs), such as in vitro and adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) approaches, for generating data about the potential hazard of B-NMs. Literature research was performed to identify the adverse outcomes (AOs) related to the selected B-NMs. All the AOPs investigated shared at least oxidative stress, inflammation and cytotoxicity as key events (KEs) that were investigated in lung and immune cells. The tested B-NMs resulted either non-toxic or moderately toxic towards human cells, validating their biocompatibility when compared to reference NMs of similar composition, but not of bio-origin. However, attention should be given to possible AOs deriving after specific functionalization of the B-NMs. Considering the lack of knowledge in this field, the studies performed represent a step forward in the state of the art of the safety assessment of B-NMs.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/7/549adverse outcome pathwaysbio-based nanomaterialslignin nanoparticlessilica nanoparticlesnanotoxicitypolyurethane foams
spellingShingle Rossella Daniela Bengalli
Maurizio Gualtieri
Mariana Ornelas
Tzanko Tzanov
Paride Mantecca
Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
Nanomaterials
adverse outcome pathways
bio-based nanomaterials
lignin nanoparticles
silica nanoparticles
nanotoxicity
polyurethane foams
title Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
title_full Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
title_fullStr Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
title_full_unstemmed Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
title_short Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) Oriented Approach to Assess In Vitro Hazard of Silica and Lignin Nanomaterials Derived from Biomass Residues
title_sort adverse outcome pathways aops oriented approach to assess in vitro hazard of silica and lignin nanomaterials derived from biomass residues
topic adverse outcome pathways
bio-based nanomaterials
lignin nanoparticles
silica nanoparticles
nanotoxicity
polyurethane foams
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/7/549
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