Amrein, MatthiasBogari, Nawaf N.2015-09-012015-09-012015Bogari, N. N. (2015). Interaction of Silica Nanoparticles with Primary Alveolar Epithelial Cells (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26596http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2417The fate of nanoparticles reaching the alveolar lung is not completely understood. Clearance of these particles has been ascribed to the alveolar macrophages scavenging this region. In contrast, in my thesis, I show in vitro, that particles interact more strongly with the alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) than alveolar macrophages (AMs), are then taken up efficiently and transported across the cells and released on the basolateral side. First, I developed a protocol for obtaining a pure culture of rat AEC. Single cell force spectroscopy showed the AEC to respond strongly and in a clathrin-independent manner to the particles, unlike a host of control cells, including alveolar macrophages. Fluorescence light microscopy and total internal reflection fluorescence light microscopy (TIRF) demonstrated the transport to be novel, actin-dependent and microtubule independent. In summary, my thesis provides evidence of a second clearance mechanism in addition to AMs.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Education--HealthBiology--CellPhysiologyHealth SciencesImmunologyNanoparticlesAlveolar epithelial cellsPrimary cell cultureEndocytosisInteraction of Silica Nanoparticles with Primary Alveolar Epithelial Cellsmaster thesishttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26596