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ToxOligo2 - Toxicological properties of oligomers present in food contact materials

Research Project
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01.03.2023
 - 31.05.2025

ToxOligo addresses an important knowledge gap by evaluating toxicological properties of oligomers released from polymers as food contact materials (FCM). The formation and presence of oligomers is inevitable in such FCM. Despite known migration into food, these substances are toxicologically poorly characterized, preventing adequate risk assessment. The ongoing project phase allowed essential new insights into available information on oligomers from all polymeric FCM. A pilot study on PET helped to design an optimized strategy and workflow to address this task. Information on physicochemical, ADME and toxicological properties was collected using computational methods. In a second project phase, a collection of oligomers from all other materials will be made based on the obtained information. The focus will be on bioactivity assessment of these substances. Hazard profiles will be established using various in vitro assays to assess general toxicity, cellular stress pathways, macrophage activation and endocrine effects. These studies aim at assessing the level of concern of such substances and providing recommendations for prioritization of future toxicological testing.

Funding

ToxOligo2 – Toxicological properties of oligomers present in food contact materials

Foundations / Associations (GrantsTool), 03.2023-05.2025 (27)
PI : Odermatt, Alex.
CI : Smiesko, Martin,Wilks, Martin F..

Members (6)

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Alex Odermatt

Principal Investigator
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Martin Smiesko

Co-Investigator
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Martin F. Wilks

Co-Investigator
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Beat Brüschweiler

Co-Investigator
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Benoit Schilter

Co-Investigator
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Gabriele Scholz

Co-Investigator