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Although there is growing evidence to suggest that the intestinal microbiota is a major actor in food toxicology, it has rarely been considered in the emerging field of nanoparticles. However, nanoparticles, and in particular silver nanoparticles (or nanosilver), are increasingly present in food via the food additive E174 (currently used to colour the surface of cakes and candies) or colloidal silver offered to consumers as homeopathic remedies and food supplements.

The Tox-Model project aims to address a key challenge, namely to go beyond the purely descriptive approach ("Which microbial groups disappear/appear after oral exposure to silver nanoparticles? ") towards a functional understanding, based on mathematical modelling, of the ecosystem as a whole ("Why are these microbial groups present / absent? What spatial and temporal interactions among them and with environmental and host factors, including mucus, determine the structure and function of the community? ").

Based on the development and sharing of know-how between France and the United States, TOX-MODEL's originality is to answer these key questions for a better assessment and management of health risks.

The BIA-ISD team will focus more specifically on the impact of in vitro digestion on silver nanoparticles.

• Duration of the project: Feb. 2018-Dec. 2019
• Coordination : INRA ToxAlim (Project owner: Muriel Mercier-Bonin, INRA-ToxAlim)
• Academic partners:
  • INRA ToxAlim, Toulouse
  • INRA BIA, Nantes
  • INRA MICALIS, Jouy-en-Josas
  • INRA LISBP, Toulouse
  • Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
• Budget: 50 000 € for 2 years (25 000€/year)