Andi Alijagic
Andi Alijagic Position: Researcher School/office: School of Science and TechnologyEmail: YW5kaS5hbGlqYWdpYztvcnUuc2U=
Phone: +46 19 302342
Room: B3110, X3207
About Andi Alijagic
Andi Alijagic is a researcher in toxicology at Örebro University. His research interests focus on the understanding of cellular toxicity and modes-of-action underlying health impacts of particle and chemical pollutants, with an emphasis on micro and nanoplastics and plastic-associated chemicals (Alijagic et al. 2024, Environment International). In addition to research, he is actively involved in teaching and supervision of students.
Research
In his research, Andi employs cell-based models, focusing on key exposure sites (e.g., respiratory and gut epithelium) and toxicologically relevant organs (e.g., liver), along with a battery of mechanistically informative plate-based assays, high-content imaging, and multi-omics approaches to investigate the cellular mechanisms that maintain health and function or drive inflammation, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption in response to particle and chemical exposure. He has a strong interest in the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), and together with ORU team, he has initiated the application of Cell Painting-based phenomics for toxicological screening of emerging pollutants, including its first use on nanoparticles. With this approach he aims at contributing to a healthy and zero-pollution environment by performing research at the forefront of human and environmental toxicology.
Andi is involved in several large interdisciplinary projects focused on emerging environmental and health risks. In the NanoSafety2 project (Synergi22), which was included in the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) 100 List for 2024, he coordinates research on the toxicity and health effects of (nano)particles and chemicals emitted during additive manufacturing (industrial 3D printing). Through ongoing collaborations, Andi works closely with leading Swedish and international companies, as well as academic institutions.
He serves as Sweden’s Management Committee Member in the COST Action PRIORITY (Plastics monitoRIng detectiOn RemedIaTion recovery), contributing to WG1 (Impacts and risks on human health and the environment related to nano- and microplastics) and WG4 (Nanoplastics). He is also a partner in the COST Action ICAPLASTIC (ISO compatible, efficient and reproducible protocols/equipment for mICro-nanoPLASTIC detection through machine learning), contributing to WG6 (Toxicology). In addition, Andi is a Steering Group member in the OECD project on the Safety Testing of Nanoplastics (2025-2028).
In addition, he is serving as the editorial board member in the journals Discover Toxicology (Springer Nature), Frontiers in Toxicology (section: Nanotoxicology), and Frontiers in Environmental Science (section: Toxicology, Pollution and the Environment). He is actively involved in the communication of science both to the public at large and the research community.
Courses and supervision
Andi is teaching in several bachelor's and master's courses, including BI322G Immunology (as course coordinator), MX301A Environmental Toxicology, KE302A/KE303A Analytical Methods in Environmental Forensics I and II, BI324G Model Systems in Biology, BI312G Applied Biology, and BI308G Mechanistic Toxicology at the School of Science and Technology. He is also (co-)supervising PhD, master's, bachelor's, and Erasmus+ exchange students, providing guidance and mentorship for their thesis projects and academic development.
Education
2021-2022: Postdoctoral researcher, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. NanoSafety1 project
2016-2020: PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria, and National Research Council of Italy, Palermo, Italy. Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD fellow within the Horizon 2020 PANDORA project
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Research groups
Publications
Articles in journals
- Alijagic, A. , Södergren Seilitz, F. , Bredberg, A. , Hakonen, A. , Larsson, M. , Selin, E. , Sjöberg, V. , Kotlyar, O. & et al. (2025). Deciphering the phenotypic, inflammatory, and endocrine disrupting impacts of e-waste plastic-associated chemicals. Environmental Research, 269. [BibTeX]
- Herring, M. , Särndahl, E. , Kotlyar, O. , Scherbak, N. , Engwall, M. , Karlsson, R. , Ejdebäck, M. , Persson, A. & et al. (2025). Exploring NLRP3-related phenotypic fingerprints in human macrophages using Cell Painting assay. iScience, 28 (3). [BibTeX]
- Suljević, D. , Karlsson, P. , Fočak, M. , Brulić, M. M. , Sulejmanović, J. , Šehović, E. , Särndahl, E. , Engwall, M. & et al. (2025). Microplastics and nanoplastics co-exposure modulates chromium bioaccumulation and physiological responses in rats. Environment International, 198. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Särndahl, E. , Kotlyar, O. , Karlsson, P. , Duberg, D. , Scherbak, N. , Pinsino, A. , Engwall, M. & et al. (2025). Nanoplastics drive toxicity under co-exposure with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in human intestinal cells. Environmental Chemistry Letters. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Russo, R. , Scuderi, V. , Ussia, M. , Scalese, S. , Taverna, S. , Engwall, M. & Pinsino, A. (2025). Sea urchin immune cells and associated microbiota co-exposed to iron oxide nanoparticles activate cellular and molecular reprogramming that promotes physiological adaptation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 485. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Wang, X. , Vallabani, N. V. S. , Melin, P. , Särndahl, E. , Karlsson, H. L. & Odnevall, I. (2024). Characteristics and health risks of the inhalable fraction of metal additive manufacturing powders. Nano Select, 5 (4). [BibTeX]
- Le Du-Carrée, J. , Palacios, C. K. , Rotander, A. , Larsson, M. , Alijagic, A. , Kotlyar, O. , Engwall, M. , Sjöberg, V. & et al. (2024). Cocktail effects of tire wear particles leachates on diverse biological models: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 471. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Kotlyar, O. , Larsson, M. , Salihovic, S. , Hedbrant, A. , Eriksson, U. , Karlsson, P. , Persson, A. & et al. (2024). Immunotoxic, genotoxic, and endocrine disrupting impacts of polyamide microplastic particles and chemicals. Environment International, 183. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Sinisalu, L. , Duberg, D. , Kotlyar, O. , Scherbak, N. , Engwall, M. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2024). Metabolic and phenotypic changes induced by PFAS exposure in two human hepatocyte cell models. Environment International, 190. [BibTeX]
- Behnisch, P. , Besselink, H. , Suzuki, G. , Buchinger, S. , Reifferscheid, G. , Lukas, M. , Wollenweber, M. , Wollenweber, S. & et al. (2024). Results of an international interlaboratory study on dioxin-like activities in drinking-, river surface- and wastewater using DR CALUX bioassay. Science of the Total Environment, 920. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Scherbak, N. , Kotlyar, O. , Karlsson, P. , Wang, X. , Odnevall, I. , Benada, O. , Amiryousefi, A. & et al. (2023). A Novel Nanosafety Approach Using Cell Painting, Metabolomics, and Lipidomics Captures the Cellular and Molecular Phenotypes Induced by the Unintentionally Formed Metal-Based (Nano)Particles. Cells, 12 (2). [BibTeX]
- Suljević, D. , Fočak, M. , Sulejmanović, J. , Šehović, E. & Alijagic, A. (2023). Low-dose and repeated exposure to nickel leads to bioaccumulation and cellular and metabolic alterations in quails. Environmental Pollution, 322. [BibTeX]
- Vallabani, N. V. S. , Alijagic, A. , Persson, A. , Odnevall, I. , Särndahl, E. & Karlsson, H. L. (2022). Toxicity evaluation of particles formed during 3D-printing: cytotoxic, genotoxic, and inflammatory response in lung and macrophage models. Toxicology, 467. [BibTeX]
- Suljevic, D. , Sulejmanovic, J. , Focak, M. , Halilovic, E. , Pupalovica,, D. , Hasic, A. & Alijagic, A. (2021). Assessing hexavalent chromium tissue-specific accumulation patterns and induced physiological responses to probe chromium toxicity in Coturnix japonica quail. Chemosphere, 266. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Barbero, F. , Gaglio, D. , Napodano, E. , Benada, O. , Kofroňová, O. , Puntes, V. F. , Bastús, N. G. & et al. (2021). Gold nanoparticles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone and sea urchin extracellular molecules induce transient immune activation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 402. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Bonura, A. , Barbero, F. , Puntes, V. F. , Gervasi, F. & Pinsino, A. (2021). Immunomodulatory Function of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles in Vibrio-Stimulated Sea Urchin Immune Cells. Nanomaterials, 11 (10). [BibTeX]
- Suljević, D. , Handžić, N. , Lasić, I. , Sipović, F. , Sulejmanović, J. , Begić, S. & Alijagic, A. (2021). Lead Exposure Influences Serum Biomarkers, Hepatocyte Survival, Bone Marrow Hematopoiesis, and the Reproductive Cycle in Japanese Quails. Biological Trace Element Research, 199 (4), 1574-1583. [BibTeX]
- Catalano, R. , Labille, J. , Gaglio, D. , Alijagic, A. , Napodano, E. , Slomberg, D. , Campos, A. & Pinsino, A. (2020). Safety Evaluation of TiO2 Nanoparticle-Based Sunscreen UV Filters on the Development and the Immunological State of the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Nanomaterials, 10 (11). [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Gaglio, D. , Napodano, E. , Russo, R. , Costa, C. , Benada, O. , Kofroňová, O. & Pinsino, A. (2020). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles temporarily influence the sea urchin immunological state suppressing inflammatory-relate gene transcription and boosting antioxidant metabolic activity. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 384. [BibTeX]
- Suljevic, D. , Corbic, A. , Islamagic, E. , Focak, M. , Filipic, F. & Alijagic, A. (2019). Impairments of bone marrow hematopoietic cells followed by the sever erythrocyte damage and necrotic liver as the outcome of chronic in vivo exposure to cadmium: novel insights from quails. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 72. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Benada, O. , Kofroňová, O. , Cigna, D. & Pinsino, A. (2019). Sea Urchin Extracellular Proteins Design a Complex Protein Corona on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Surface Influencing Immune Cell Behavior. Frontiers in Immunology, 10. [BibTeX]
- Pinsino, A. & Alijagic, A. (2019). Sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immune cells in culture: formulation of the appropriate harvesting and culture media and maintenance conditions. Biology open, 8 (3). [BibTeX]
Articles, reviews/surveys
- Suljević, D. , Fočak, M. & Alijagic, A. (2024). Assessing chromium toxicity across aquatic and terrestrial environments: a cross-species review. Drug and chemical toxicology (New York, N.Y. 1978), 47 (6), 1312-1324. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. & Särndahl, E. (2024). Can evolutionary immunology decode micro and nanoplastic challenges?. Frontiers in Immunology, 15. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Suljević, D. , Fočak, M. , Sulejmanović, J. , Šehović, E. , Särndahl, E. & Engwall, M. (2024). The triple exposure nexus of microplastic particles, plastic-associated chemicals, and environmental pollutants from a human health perspective. Environment International, 188. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Hedbrant, A. , Persson, A. , Larsson, M. , Engwall, M. & Särndahl, E. (2023). NLRP3 inflammasome as a sensor of micro- and nanoplastics immunotoxicity. Frontiers in Immunology, 14. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Engwall, M. , Särndahl, E. , Karlsson, H. , Hedbrant, A. , Andersson, L. , Karlsson, P. , Dalemo, M. & et al. (2022). Particle Safety Assessment in Additive Manufacturing: From Exposure Risks to Advanced Toxicology Testing. Frontiers in Toxicology, 4. [BibTeX]
- Swartzwelter, B. J. , Mayall, C. , Alijagic, A. , Barbero, F. , Ferrari, E. , Hernadi, S. , Michelini, S. , Navarro Pacheco, N. I. & et al. (2021). Cross-Species Comparisons of Nanoparticle Interactions with Innate Immune Systems: A Methodological Review. Nanomaterials, 11 (6). [BibTeX]
- Boraschi, D. , Alijagic, A. , Auguste, M. , Ferrari, E. , Hernadi, S. , Mayall, C. , Michelini, S. , Navarro Pacheco, N. I. & et al. (2020). Addressing Nanomaterial Immunosafety by Evaluating Innate Immunity across Living Species. Small, 16 (21). [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. & Pinsino, A. (2017). Probing safety of nanoparticles by outlining sea urchin sensing and signaling cascades. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 144, 416-421. [BibTeX]
Conference papers
- Alijagic, A. , Södergren Seilitz, F. , Bredberg, A. , Hakonen, A. , Larsson, M. , Sjöberg, V. , Kotlyar, O. , Persson, A. & et al. (2024). Comprehensive chemical and toxicological screening of e-waste plastic chemicals. In: Toxicology Letters. Paper presented at 58th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX 2024), Copenhagen, Denmark, September 8-11, 2024. (pp. S66-S66). Elsevier. [BibTeX]
- Alijagic, A. , Scherbak, N. , Kotlyar, O. , Karlsson, P. , Persson, A. , Hedbrant, A. , Norinder, U. , Larsson, M. & et al. (2022). Cell Painting unveils cell response signatures to (nano)particles formed in additive manufacturing. In: Toxicology Letters. Paper presented at XVIth International Congress of Toxicology (ICT 2022) - UNITING IN TOXICOLOGY, Maastricht, The Netherlands, September 18-21, 2022. (pp. S226-S227). Elsevier. [BibTeX]
Manuscripts
- Herring, M. , Särndahl, E. , Kotlyar, O. , Scherbak, N. , Engwall, M. , Karlsson, R. , Ejdebäck, M. , Persson, A. & et al. Exploring NLRP3-related phenotypic fingerprints in human macrophages using Cell Painting assay. [BibTeX]
Reports
- Kärrman, A. , Alijagic, A. & Andersson, P. (2024). The health and environmental challenges of recycling chemicals in the sustainable management of plastics.. Uppsala Health Summit. [BibTeX]