This page in Swedish

Andi Alijagic

Position: Associate Senior Lecturer School/office: School of Science and Technology

Email: YW5kaS5hbGlqYWdpYztvcnUuc2U=

Phone: +46 19 302342

Room: B3110, X3207

Research subject

Research environments

Man-Technology-Environment research centre (MTM)

About Andi Alijagic

Assistant Professor in Precision Toxicology and research group leader of the Precision Toxicology Lab at Örebro University. I was appointed Docent in Biology in 2025.

My interest in toxicology and nanomaterial–cell interactions developed during my PhD as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, where I studied how engineered nanomaterials interact with the immune system and influence cellular responses. This work sparked a broader interest in understanding how environmental exposures affect biological systems. Over time, my research expanded from animal models toward human-relevant approaches to investigate the health effects of (nano)particles, chemicals, and emerging pollutants such as micro- and nanoplastics, as well as to detect their early biological effects. A central aspect of my work is understanding the mechanisms of (nano)particle–cell and chemical–cell interactions using physiologically relevant exposure systems, including air–liquid interface models for airborne (nano)particles and chemicals. These systems are combined with advanced cellular models representing both healthy and diseased states, with ongoing expansion into more complex 3D systems. Within the Precision Toxicology Lab, we integrate phenomics (including AI-guided image analysis), targeted mechanistic and functional assays, and multi-omics analyses, including the integration of phenomics and metabolomics.

I coordinate and participate in several interdisciplinary projects addressing emerging environmental health risks. Within the NanoSafety2 project (Synergi22), included in the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) 100 List for 2024, I coordinate research on the toxicity and health effects of (nano)particles and chemicals emitted during additive manufacturing. I am also a partner in the COST Action ICAPLASTIC and a Steering Group member in the OECD project on the Safety Testing of Nanoplastics (2025–2028).

In addition to my research activities, I serve on the Early Career Advisory Board of Chemical Research in Toxicology (ACS) and on several editorial boards in the field of human and environmental toxicology.

I contribute to teaching across several bachelor’s and master’s programmes at the Örebro University, including BI322G Immunology and BI308G Mechanistic Toxicology (both as course coordinator), and several other courses. I am also (co-)supervising PhD, master's, bachelor's, and Erasmus+ exchange students, providing guidance and mentorship for their thesis projects and academic development.

Active projects

Completed projects

Research groups

Publications

Articles in journals

Alijagic, A. , Chaker, J. , Barbosa, J. M. G. , Duberg, D. , Castro Alves, V. , Dickens, A. M. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2026). Metabolic effects and biotransformation of perfluorohexyloctane in human hepatocytes. Environment International, 208. [BibTeX]
Alijagic, A. , Oresic, M. & Hyötyläinen, T. (2026). Perfluorohexyloctane: More than Meets the Eye?. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 39 (2), 205-207. [BibTeX]
Södergren Seilitz, F. , Au Musse, A. , Struwe, N. , Alijagic, A. , Kärrman, A. , Hashmi, A. , Wang, T. , Engwall, M. & et al. (2026). Virtual effect-directed analysis of granulated rubber identifies bioactive chemicals and distinct hazard profiles. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 507. [BibTeX]
Alijagic, A. , Suljevic, D. , Engwall, M. & Särndahl, E. (2025). 3D printing: Balancing innovation for sustainability with emerging environmental and health risks. iScience, 28 (8). [BibTeX]
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, 23 (5), 1161-1169. [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. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Andersson, L. , Salihovic, S. , Sinisalu, L. , Karlsson, P. , Persson, A. , Repsilber, D. & et al. (2025). Particulate matter emitted in post-processing of additively manufactured metallic alloys induces acute inflammatory responses in human macrophages: a multi-omics approach. In: Toxicology Letters. Paper presented at 59th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX 2025), Athens, Greece, September 14-17, 2025. (pp. S56-S56). Elsevier. [BibTeX]
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

Mellin, P. , Assenhöj, M. , Ljunggren, S. , Karlsson, H. , Almstrand, A. , Runström, G. , Tinnerberg, H. , Bredberg, A. & et al. (2025). Health- and environmental aspects of additive manufacturing and challenges for a sustainable production (HÄMAT).. . [BibTeX]
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]