Ricerc@Sapienza

This project is aimed at investigating both the surface and bulk modifications occurring on fibrous erionite, a Group 1 Human-Carcinogen, during leaching in a mimicked Gamble's solution (MGS) at pH of 4.5 and T = 37 °C, up to 1 month of incubation. This formulation is selected to reproduce in a simplified way the lung fluid where such fibres may persist upon inhalation. Samples will be characterized by using a multi-analytical approach: field-emission scanning electron microscopy will be employed to investigate the morphological features of both pristine and reacted fibres, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry will be used to measure the concentration of released cations, X-ray diffraction (XRD) will be applied for investigating the structural state of the fibres after incubation. Our results are potentially crucial at disclosing, under such experimental conditions, the process of leaching of erionite-K fibres and should provide, as well, an estimation of erionite biodurability. This piece of information is of relevance considering the primary role played by biodurability in inducing pathogenicity. Besides, the ions released by erionite when immersed in MGS may trigger biological effects, because, as example, Ca ions are able to induce opening of the permeability transition pore of the inner membrane leading to a possible cytotoxic effect due to the release of apoptotic factors normally localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, whereas Mg ions may have different effects on lipid packing and membrane permeability.