Andi Alijagic
Andi Alijagic Befattning: Forskare Organisation: Institutionen för naturvetenskap och teknikE-post: YW5kaS5hbGlqYWdpYztvcnUuc2U=
Telefon: 019 302342
Rum: B3110, X3207
Om Andi Alijagic
Andi Alijagic is a docent and researcher in toxicology at Örebro University. Andi’s core competence lies in particle and chemical toxicology, with a central focus on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which particle and chemical pollutants—particularly micro- and nanoplastics and plastic-associated chemicals—interact with biological systems and give rise to adverse health effects (Alijagic et al. 2024, Environment International). Alongside his research, he contributes actively to teaching across several programmes and supervises students at multiple academic levels.
Research
Andi’s research is focused on the particle- and chemical-cell interaction, with a view to determining the mechanistic toxicological, immunological, genotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting effects that environmentally relevant pollutants may exert at the cellular level. He employs advanced in vitro models across a variety of different biological systems, including models of both healthy and disease-relevant states. These systems are complemented by the development and application of air–liquid interface (ALI) exposure approaches, allowing for more physiologically relevant assessment of airborne particles and chemicals. He integrates these systems with a panel of mechanistic assays, high-content imaging (phenomics), and multi-omics analyses. Another ambition of Andi’s research is to create and promote alternative in vitro models that more accurately mimic in vivo environments and support the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3R) of animal testing. 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 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 serves on the Early Career Advisory Board of Chemical Research in Toxicology (ACS) and on the Editorial Boards of 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 contributes to teaching across several bachelor’s and master’s programmes at the School of Science and Technology, including BI322G Immunology and BI308G Mechanistic Toxicology (both as course coordinator), MX301A Environmental Toxicology, KE302A/KE303A Analytical Methods in Environmental Forensics I and II, BI324G Model Systems in Biology, and BI312G Applied Biology 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
Forskningsprojekt
Pågående projekt
- Cell Painting-based toxicophenomics
- NanoSafety2
- NANOSIGN
- PARC - Partnerskap för bedömning av risker från kemikalier
- X-HiDE
Avslutade projekt
Forskargrupper
Publikationer
Artiklar i tidskrifter
- 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]
Artiklar, forskningsöversikter
- 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]
Konferensbidrag
- 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. I: Toxicology Letters. Konferensbidrag vid 59th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX 2025), Athens, Greece, September 14-17, 2025. (ss. 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. I: Toxicology Letters. Konferensbidrag vid 58th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX 2024), Copenhagen, Denmark, September 8-11, 2024. (ss. 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. I: Toxicology Letters. Konferensbidrag vid XVIth International Congress of Toxicology (ICT 2022) - UNITING IN TOXICOLOGY, Maastricht, The Netherlands, September 18-21, 2022. (ss. S226-S227). Elsevier. [BibTeX]
Manuskript
- 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]
Rapporter
- 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]