Figure 2.

Experimental protocol scheme. (A) Human alveolar epithelial cultures under submerged conditions were exposed for 24 h to the tested engineered nanoparticles (ENP) dispersed in serum-free incubation medium. (B) Cell cultures under air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions were exposed to either clean air or ENP aerosols using an Automated Exposure Station (AES) for 2 and 4 h to achieve different deposited doses. It was not possible to generate a stable aerosol from SnO₂ NP, though they were not tested under ALI. As depicted, samples for cytotoxicity (LDH release and WST-1 metabolisation) and genotoxicity (DNA damage) assessment were collected at different timepoints.