2D	two-dimensional
3D	three-dimensional
λem	emission wavelength
λex	excitation wavelength
BRET	bioluminescence resonance energy transfer
BSA	bovine serum albumin
DGE	German Society for Nutrition, ger. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung
DMEM	Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium
DMT-1	divalent metal transporter
EDTA	ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid
EFSA	European Food Safety Authority
EHS	Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm cells
FAAS	flame atomic absorption spectrometry
FCS	fetal calf serum
FLIM	fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
FRET	Förster resonance energy transfer
HD	high density
HBSS	Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution
HEPES	4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid
HSA	human serum albumin
ICP-MS	inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry
ICP-OES	inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
IP	inositolphosphate
Km	half saturation constant
KHB	Krebs-Henseleit buffer
LIM	Lin-11, Isl-1, Mec-3
LMW	low molecular weight
LSM	laser scanning microscope
mRNA	messenger ribonucleic acid
MEM	minimum essential medium
MT	metallothionein
MTF-1	metal regulatory transcription factor 1
n.a.	not available
PBMC	peripheral blood mononuclear cells
PBS	phosphate buffered saline
PC	polycarbonate
PE	polyethylene
PES	polyester
PET	photo-induced electron transfer
qPCR	quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
RING	really interesting new gene
SLC	solute carrier
TEER	transepithelial electrical resistance
TJ	tight junction
TPEN	N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine
WHO	World Health Organization
ZIP	Zrt-, Irt-like protein
Zn	zinc
ZnT	zinc transporter