Cause-and-effect analysis as a tool to improve the reproducibility of nanobioassays: four case studies

Elijah J. Petersen*, Cordula Hirsch, John T. Elliott, Harald F. Krug, Leonie Aengenheister, Ali Talib Arif, Alessia Bogni, Agnieszka Kinsner-Ovaskainen, Sarah May, Tobias Walser, Peter Wick, Matthias Roesslein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the challenges in using in vitro data to understand the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is that results often differ or are even contradictory among studies. While it is recognized that numerous factors can influence results produced by nanobioassays, there has not yet been a consistently used conceptual framework to identify key sources of variability in these assays. In this paper, we use cause-and-effect analysis to systematically describe sources of variability in four key in vitro nanobioassays: the 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein assay, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring interleukin-8, a flow cytometry assay (Annexin V/propidium iodide), and the Comet assay. These assays measure end points that can occur in cells impacted by ENMs through oxidative stress, a principle mechanism for ENM toxicity. The results from this analysis identify control measurements to test for potential artifacts or biases that could occur during conduct of these assays with ENMs. Cause-and-effect analysis also reveals additional measurements that could be performed either in preliminary experiments or each time the assay is run to increase confidence in the assay results and their reproducibility within and among laboratories. The approach applied here with these four assays can be used to support the development of a broad range of nanobioassays.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1039-1054
Number of pages16
JournalChemical Research in Toxicology
Volume33
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 May 2020
Externally publishedYes

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