Invited talk: Skin-on-chip system for safety assessment of nanomaterials

BMBD research unit organized an invited talk given by Prof. Ana Ribeiro. Drop by if you find the topic inspiring.

Prof. Ana Ribeiro

Nanosafety group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal

E-mail: ana.ribeiro inl.int

The skin, the body's largest organ, is constantly exposed to both natural and human-made nanomaterials (NMs) that can give rise to irreversible health effects such as skin corrosion and cancer. The current safety assessments of NMs rely on 2D skin cell models cultured in static conditions, which fail to accurately mimic skin physiology. Additionally, the European Union's ban on animals so there is a strong need to replace animal testing with reliable and reproducible alternative methods. Reconstructed skin models are already broadly commercially available; however, they do not mimic all the structural complexity and essential biomolecular functions of the in vivo skin. To address these limitations, we developed a skin-on-chip model that more closely mimics the skin microenvironment. This model was fully characterized in terms of barrier function, cell viability, and permeability. Results indicate that the model is highly sensitivity, allowing direct measurement of ion efflux from live cells and offering valuable insights into NM-induced cellular responses.

Short Biography:

Ana Ribeiro has been engaged in biomaterials research since 2004, focusing on the degradation of titanium in osseointegrated implants. Her fascination with biomimetics led her to pursue a PhD on dynamic extracellular matrices in tissue regeneration, during which she gained expertise in the physicochemical and biological principles underpinning biomimetic material design. Her work earned her prestigious accolades, including the Daniel Jouvance Scientific Award for Young Researchers, the European Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Doctoral Award, and the Pulido Valente Ciência Prize. Driven by a passion for clinical applications, Ana completed a postdoctoral fellowship at a Brazilian dentistry university, focusing on the cytocompatibility of multifunctional implant surfaces. Her growing concern about the potential hazards of nanobiomaterials to human health motivated her to join the National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology, where she led multidisciplinary projects in bone and skin nanotoxicology. Since 2018, Ana has been a staff researcher in the Nanosafety Research Group at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Portugal. Her current research focuses on developing 3D cell culture models and organ-on-chip systems to evaluate nanomaterial safety. She also investigates how nanomaterials influence cell communication and their potential systemic effects on human health.