Aims
Comprehensive Environmental Assessment
We will evaluate TiO₂ nanoparticle and titanium levels in water, sediments, and biota across Portuguese coastal ecosystems, linking contamination to human activity and seasonal variation.
Trophic Transfer Studies
We aim to investigate how TiO₂ nanoparticles move through aquatic food webs—from microalgae to fish—and whether dietary exposure leads to greater bioaccumulation and toxicity.
Nutritional Quality Assessment
We will study how TiO₂ nanoparticle exposure affects the nutritional value of commercial fish, focusing on protein, lipid profiles, and energy balance with implications for seafood safety.
Molecular and Cellular Effects
We will uncover the molecular pathways and cellular mechanisms underlying nanoparticle toxicity in fish, particularly across gut–liver–brain interactions, using multi-omics approaches..
Development of Alternative Testing Methods
We aim to design innovative, ethical, and efficient methods, including in vitro tools, to assess nanoparticle toxicity while reducing animal use.