# Inhalation Toxicology Core (ITC)

> **NIH NIH P42** · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV A&M COL BATON ROUGE · 2022 · $43,371

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Inhalation Toxicology Core (ITC)
Recreating an environment representative of real-life exposure scenarios is critical for experimental studies.
Inhalation is the most representative route of human exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM). The
assessment of cardiopulmonary dysfunction induced by inhaled PM is complex and involves a variety of
factors, including the physicochemical properties of the PM in its actual exposure form and dose. Innovative,
state-of-the-art exposure techniques are essential to reliably conduct in vivo and in vitro inhalation studies.
Therefore, to complement the physicochemical characterization of the bulk particles containing environmentally
persistent free radicals (EPFRs), as determined by the Material Core (MC), the Inhalation Toxicology Core
(ITC) will generate, deliver, and characterize EPFR-aerosols for the in vivo and in vitro exposures of LSU SRP
Projects 1 and 2. The mission of the ITC is to provide the expertise, training, facilities and equipment
necessary for LSU SRP investigators to expose either mice or cell systems to aerosolized and well-
characterized EPFR-containing aerosols, as well as to assess lung function in exposed mice. This support is
highlighted through three specific activities: 1) Generating stable EPFR-aerosols under real-life environmental
exposure conditions, as well as characterizing the physicochemical properties of the inhalable aerosols in the
breathing zone of the mice for Projects 1 and 2. Since it is hypothesized that EPFR-induced cardiopulmonary
dysfunction involves induction of oxidative stress at the air-blood interface, a unique innovative advantage of
this integrated EPFR-aerosol inhalation exposure system is that it facilitates mechanistic studies by allowing
dosimetry of environmentally-relevant particles of known size distribution capable of reaching the alveolar
region. 2) Providing support for lung function testing in mice for Project 1 via invasive techniques. The ITC will
provide the equipment, for instance the flexiVent system, to assess lung function (resistance and compliance)
in mice exposed by inhalation to EPFR-aerosols. 3) Generating and characterizing EPFR-aerosols for in vitro
exposure models at the air-liquid interface (ALI) of co-cultured cells for Projects 1 and 2. The ALI environment
simulates realistic pulmonary deposition patterns and cellular dosimetry, allowing for suitable cellular and
molecular responses. Overall, the outstanding research capabilities of the ITC permits investigators to obtain
both in vivo (functional and physiological) and in vitro (cellular and molecular) results following exposures to
EPFR-aerosols under similar exposure conditions and characterization methods. Thus, allowing for elucidation
of precise EPFR-induced cardiopulmonary dysfunction mechanisms through novel complementary in vivo and
in vitro data-sets. In conclusion, the ITC is a central interdisciplinary platform, custom designed to fit the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10341191
- **Project number:** 5P42ES013648-10
- **Recipient organization:** LOUISIANA STATE UNIV A&M COL BATON ROUGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexandra Noel
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $43,371
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-08-15 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10341191

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10341191, Inhalation Toxicology Core (ITC) (5P42ES013648-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10341191. Licensed CC0.

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