Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Group Leader Arno Gutleb, LIST - Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Luxembourg
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Anne Mari Aukan Rokstad, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Jason Matthews, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Mahmood Reza Amiry-Moghaddam, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Lead Research Professor Shan Narui, STAMI – The National Institute of Occupational Health in Norway
Summary
Advances in nanotechnology have made it possible to manufacture a wide range of nanomaterials with considerable improved properties and applications. The small particles are found in everything from cosmetic products like toothpaste and shampoo to electronics, textiles, paint, and packaging. However, due to the increased manufacturing and use of nanomaterials in industrial production, concerns have been raised about potential adverse health effects among exposed workers. Occupational exposure to nanomaterials may occur during design, manufacturing, utilization, and waste handling, with inhalation as the main exposure route.
The aim of this thesis was to investigate cellular transformation ability and mechanisms of long-term exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO2) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) using low and occupationally relevant doses. The results showed that both TiO2 and MWCNT had the ability to transform human bronchial epithelial cells, indicating their carcinogenic potential. These nanomaterials also induced changes in lipidomic and proteomic profiles, cell cycle, cell survival, and cell death mechanisms. The thesis contributes to a better understanding of the biological impact at the molecular level following exposure to nanomaterials.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.