**5. References**


**18** 

*Sweden* 

**Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis** 

**and Mass Spectrometry in Studies of** 

Helen Karlsson, Stefan Ljunggren, Maria Ahrén, Bijar Ghafouri,

Adverse health effects have been associated with the exposure to particulate matter (PM) ever since the London smog in the winter of 1952. Recent estimates attribute about 12,000 excess deaths to have occurred because of acute and persisting effects of the London smog (Bell & Davis, 2001). Over the years a number of epidemiological studies have shown that PM from combustion sources such as motor vehicles contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Kreyling et al., 2002, 2006, Wick et al., 2010). Especially so do the ultra-fine particles (UFPs) with a diameter less than 0.1 micrometer. UFPs from combustion engines are capable to translocate over the alveolar–capillary barrier (Rothen-Rutishauser et al., 2007). When nano-sized PM (nanoparticles, NP), which are small enough to enter the blood stream, do so they are likely to interact with plasma proteins and this protein-NP interaction will probably affect the fate of and the effects caused by the NPs in the human body. Herein we present results showing that several proteins indeed are

NPs are atoms and molecules defined as particles less than 100 nanometers in at least one dimension (Elsaesser & Howard, 2011). Due to the plethora of NPs being produced in various forms (e.g. spherical, fibers, rods, clusters) or by different processes (e.g. flamespray synthesis, chemical vapor deposition), defining the characteristics of a NP is not an easy task even when it comes to manufactured NPs and when considering those formed unintentionally during processes such as combustion in motor vehicles it becomes an even harder task. This variation in properties according to the respective composition of NPs is also the basis of the wide range of potential applications, from medicine to consumer products. Due to the unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, there are plenty of possibilities for NPs to enter the human body, either deliberately as medicines or unintentionally as environmental contaminants and thus potentially cause adverse human health effects (Elsaesser & Howard, 2011; Stern & McNeil, 2008). Although many characteristics have been highlighted as driving the potential adverse health effects associated with NP exposure, it has been specifically the size and increased surface area of NPs that has been concluded as elucidating any such adverse effects observed (Elsaesser &

associated to NPs that have *in vitro* been introduced to human blood plasma.

**1. Introduction 1.1 Nanoparticles** 

Howard, 2011; Stern & McNeil, 2008).

**Nanoparticle-Protein Interactions** 

Kajsa Uvdal, Mats Lindahl and Anders Ljungman *Linköping University; County Council of Östergötland* 

