Dr Neenu Singh

Dr Neenu Singh received her PhD in Biomedical Science at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UK) in 2007 and MSc in Medical Biochemistry (with distinction) in 2003. She then worked as a post-doctoral research officer in Nanotoxicology at Swansea University Medical School Medicine, before joining De Montfort University as a Lecturer in Biomedical/Medical Science.

Her multi-disciplinary position specializes in assessment of nanoparticle interactions with biological cells, toxicology of nanomaterials including skills in DNA damage assessment and its associated biological mechanisms of action, in addition to nanomaterial physico-chemical characterization. She has visited and worked in various universities and organizations, including Rice and Texas A&M Universities (under the Texas-UK Collaborative), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA and University of Rome TorVergata.

Biomedical and Environmental Health

Interdisciplinary skills in nano(geno)toxicology

Consequences of nanomedicine-related nanomaterials to human health

DNA damage assessment and it underlying biological mechanisms of action:

• Alterations in gene expression,
• Oxidative stress and
• Inflammation

Clinical perspectives

Research and Innovation

Research and diagnostic techniques

Applied Biotechnology

BSc Hons. (Human Genetics)

MSc Hons. (Biomedical Science)

PhD (Biomedical Science)

Biomedical Science (BSc, BMedSci, MSc)

Medical Science

Recipient of the international conference travel award (£1100), UKEMS 2014.

Erasmus funding (£1500) to visit and work at Tor Vergata University, Rome, 2013.

Collaborative training at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA under the EPSRC grant Building Global Engagements in Research (BGER), 2013 (£4000).

Recipient of the UKEMS conference bursary (£500) 2012 and 2013.

Research grant, UKEMS Summer Project Bursary, £1500, 2012.

Recipient of the Young Scientist best poster award at UKEMS, Buxton 2010.

Texas-UK Collaborative grant worth $5000 to visit and work in Prof. Andrew Barron’s lab at Rice University, Houston, USA and Dr Michael Pisko’s lab at Texas A&M, USA, 2009.

Research grant, from the Institute of Biomedical Science, worth more than £3000, 2004.

British Society of Nanomedicine

United Kingdom Environmental and Mutagenesis Society (UKEMS)

Mallia JO, Singh N, Shah Ume-K, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH. Development of a novel in vitro 3D model to assess potential genotoxicity of nanomaterials. 38^th Annual Meeting UKEMS, 12^th -15^th July 2015. Submitted to Mutagenesis.

Evans S, Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH. Secondary mechanisms of genotoxicity promoted by ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles via immune cell activation in vitro 38^th Annual Meeting UKEMS, 12^th -15^th July 2015. Submitted to Mutagenesis.

Shah Ume-K, Mallia JO, Singh N, BéruBé K, Doak SH, Jenkins GJS. Optimization of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of HepG2 cells spheroids for genotoxicity testing, 38^th Annual Meeting UKEMS, 12^th -15^th July 2015. Submitted to Mutagenesis.

Evans S, Singh N, Wills J, Monopoli M, Hondow N, Brown A, Wilkinson T, Jenkins GJS and Doak S Promotion of an immune response and genotoxicity by ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide as a result of their physico-chemical characteristics 38^th Annual Meeting UKEMS , 12^th -15^th July 2015. Submitted to Mutagenesis.

Singh N, Haboubi H, Evans S, Nelson BC, Marquis BJ, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles disrupt actin cytoskeleton and induce (geno)toxicity 38^th Annual Meeting UKEMS , 12^th -15^th July 2015. Submitted to Mutagenesis.

Webb, R, Potter, S, Evans S. Doak SH and Singh, N. Fe₂O₃-SPION nanoparticles have only a transient effect on monocyte [Ca²⁺]_I homeostasis, and this does not appear to be sufficient to impact upon either actin polymerisation or cell viability.Calcium Signalling: The Next Generation, Biochemical Society Conference (Oct, 9^th 2014).

Singh N, Nelson BC, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH Role of oxidation state in guiding the fabrication of biocompatible superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles- DNA damage & liver toxicity. 7^th International Nanotoxicology Congress – NanoTOX 23-26 April 2014 in Antalya, Turkey.

Singh N, Kirkali G, Nelson BC, Dizdaroglu M, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH Potential Genotoxicity of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles – Role of DNA Repair Proteins. 36^th Annual Meeting UKEMS , 15^th -17^th July 2013. Submitted to Mutagenesis.  

Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Bryant N, Marquis B, Maffeis TGG, et al DNA Damaging Potential of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. 35^th Annual Meeting UKEMS, 16^th July -18^th July 2012. Mutagenesis vol. 27 no.6 pp.789-816.

Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Bryant N, Marquis B, Maffeis TGG, Williams PM, et al Iron Redox State: The Underlying culprit in the genotoxicity of ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION). Abstract 32, 34^th Annual Meeting of UKEMS, 29^th June -1^st July 2011. Mutagenesis vol. 25 no. 6 pp. 631–658.

Griffiths SM, Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH “Dextran coated ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: compatibility with common fluorometric and colourometric dyes” Abstract 34, 33rd Annual Meeting of UKEMS, 12^th 14^th July 2010. Mutagenesis vol. 25 no. 6 pp. 631–658.

Singh N, Asadi R, Griffiths SM, Jenkins GJS, Williams PM, Wright CJ, Doak SH. Understanding the in vitro genotoxicity induced by ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION). Abstract 32, 33^rd Annual Meeting of UKEMS, 12^th -14^th July 2010. Mutagenesis vol. 25 no. 6 pp. 631–658, 2010.

Singh N, Bennet A, Jenkins GJS, Wright CJ, Doak SH “Cellular response and internalization of dextran-coated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION)” Abstract 48, 31^st Annual Meeting of UKEMS, 15^th 18^th June 2010. Mutagenesis vol. 24 no. 1 pp. 97–114, 2009.

Manshian B, Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Barron A, et al Are single-walled carbon nanotubes the new asbestos? Abstract 43, 31^st Annual Meeting of UKEMS, 15^th -18^th June 2010. Mutagenesis vol. 24 no. 1 pp. 97–114, 2009.

Griffiths SM, Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Doak SH “Iron oxide nanoparticles interact with fluorometric and colourometric dyes”, Abstract 88, NanoImpactNet Conference 23-27^th March, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2009.

Singh N, Roberts A, Webb R, Thomas A et al. “Potential antiatherosclerotic effects of rosiglitazone via inhibition of actin polymerisation in monocytes-involvement of intracellular Ca2+ and Akt phosphorylation” 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Diabetes-Association, Jun 10-14, 2005 Diabetes 54: A37-A37, Suppl. 1 2005.

Singh N. Webb R., Adams R., Morris K, Evans M, et al (2005) “Rosiglitazone and the Microvasculature: the Roles of Akt Phosphorylation, Calcium Signalling and the Actin Cytoskeleton” Abstract 23, "3rd International Symposium on PPARs: From Basic Science to Clinical Applications", Monte Carlo Grand Hotel, Monaco, March 19-23, 2005.

Khanolkar M Morris K, Thomas A Roberts AW, Geen J, Singh N, Evans M  “Antithrombotic properties of rosiglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes independent of metabolic effects: A consequence of platelet PPAR gamma activation” 65th Annual Meeting of the American-Diabetes-Association, Jun 10-14, 2005 Diabetes 54: A135-A135, Suppl. 1 2005.

Khanolkar M, Thomas A, Singh N, et al. “Effects of rosiglitazone on platelet aggregation” 64th American-DiabetesAssociation, Jun 04-08, 2004, Diabetes 53: A132-A132, Suppl. 2 JUN 2004.

Lin T, Singh N, et al “The PPAR ligand, conjugated linoleic acid reduces expression of the receptor for advanced glycosylated end-products (RAGE) in monocytic cells” 2004, Mediators of inflammation, 13(1), 55-67.

Singh N, Morris K, Alan R, Aled R, Marc E, Thomas A, “Pioglitazone, but not the specific PPAR gamma agonist, GW7845, down regulates glycated protein induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human monocytes” 63^rd  Annual Meeting of the American-Diabetes-Association, Jun 13-17, 2003 Diabetes 52: A180-A180 Suppl. 1 2003.

Nelson B, Watson C, Ibuki Y, Moreno-Villanueva M, Karlsson H, Hendriks G, Sims C, Singh N, Doak SH Emerging Metrology for High-Throughput Nanomaterial Genotoxicology; Accepted in Mutagenesis (Impact factor: 2.73)

Singh N, Al-Ali A, Manshian B, Wilkinson T, Jenkins GJS and Doak SH. Quantum Dot induced Cellular Perturbations Involving Varying Toxicity Pathways. Toxicology research 2015, 4, pp.623-633 (Impact factor: 3.9)

Rees P, Ware M, Singh N, Godin B, Serda RE, Meissner K and Summers HD An analysis of the influence of cell heterogeneity on nanoparticle dose response ACS Nano 2014, 8 (7), pp. 6693–6700 (Impact factor: 12)

Manshian BB, Singh N, Doak SH. The in vitro micronucleus assay and kinetochore staining: methodology and criteria for the accurate assessment of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. A. Dhawan and M. Bajpayee (eds). Springer Protocols, Humana Press, NY, USA Methods Mol Biol. 2013;1044:269-89.

Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Bryant N, Marquis B, Maffeis TGG, Brown A, Williams PM, Wright C, Doak SH. The role of iron redox state in the potential genotoxicity of ultrafine superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION). Biomaterials. 2012 Jan;33(1):163-70. (Impact factor: 8.3).

Doak SH, Manshian B, Jenkins GJ, Singh N. In vitro genotoxicity testing strategy for nanomaterials & the adaptation of current OECD guidelines. Mutation Research-Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis Mutat Res. 2012;14;745(1-2):104-11.  (Impact factor: 2.48).

Singh N, Griffiths S.M, Jenkins G.J.S, Williams P.M, Orbaek A. A W, Barron.,Wright C. and Doak S.H. Dextran Coated Ultrafine Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles:  Compatibility with Common Fluorometric and Colorimetric Dyes, Analytical Chemistry  2011 May 15;83(10):3778-85. Epub 2011 Apr 20.  (Impact factor: 5.8)

Nicole H; John H; Rik B; Doak SH, Singh N, Manshian B, Brown A. TEM mode in the SEM: a practical tool for nanotoxicology, Nanotoxicology 2011 Jun;5(2):215-27. Epub 2010 Nov 19.  (Impact factor: 7.3)

Singh N, Jenkins GJS, Asadi R, Doak SH, (2010) Potential toxicity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). Nano Reviews 2010, 1: 5358 - DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5358.

Singh N. Conference scene – nanotoxicology: health and environmental impacts. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2009; 4: 385–90 (Impact factor: 5.8).

Singh N, Manshian B, Jenkins GJ, Griffiths SM, Williams PM, Maffeis TG, Doak SH. NanoGenotoxicology: the DNA damaging potential of engineered nanomaterials. Biomaterials 2009; 30: 3891–914 (Impact factor: 8.3)

Doak SH, Griffiths SM, Manshian B, Singh N, Williams PM, Brown AP, Jenkins GJS: Confounding experimental considerations in nanogenotoxicology. Mutagenesis 2009, 24: 285-293. (Impact factor: 3.54)

Ahluwalia M, Donovan H, Singh N, Butcher L, Erusalimsky JD. Anagrelide represses GATA-1 and FOG-1 expression without interfering with thrombopoietin receptor signal transduction. J Thromb Haemost. 2008 Oct; 8(10):2252-61. (Impact factor: 5.5).

Caddy J, Singh N, Atkin L, Thomas A.W. and Webb R., (2007) “Rosiglitazone transiently disturbs calcium homeostasis in monocytic cells”, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. Vol. 366, no. 1, pp. 149-155. (Impact factor: 2.54)

PhD Student: Aliyah Zaman (2^nd Supervisor)

UKEMS summer studentship (£1,500; July to September 2016)

Life Science Research Network, Wales  “Mechanistic evaluation of the impact of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles conjugated with drugs (SPIONd) on intracellular signalling/homeostatic mechanisms” (April 2015) (£20k; April 2015)

Awarded collaborative Swansea University PhD scheme – procured match funding from Cardiff Metropolitan University (Oct 2014) (£60k) 

Techealth Innovation Fund: Development of a novel in vitro liver 3D model to assess potential (geno)toxicity of nanomaterial-based pharmaceutical drugs (2014-2015) £5k

UKEMS pilot study. Development of a novel in vitro liver 3D model to assess potential (geno)toxicity of chemicals and nanomaterials (2014-2015) £5k

National Research Network. Development of 3D liver models for drug safety testing (2014-2015). (50k; Co-Investigator)

Joint PhD studentship with Universite Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, (£55k; Jan 2013, Co-Investigator)

Revenue and Capital internal funds, De Montfort University (£22,493; February 2016)

Acting referee for Peer Review Journals

Cell Biochemistry & Function

Current Nanoscience

Dose Response

Environmental Science & Technology

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology

Mutation Research

Nanomedicine

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology

Nanoscale

Mutagenesis

Mutation Research-Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis

Impact of nanotoxicology review article: My first author review article (see below) has generated over 600 citations and is the most cited review article to date on Nanotoxicology.