Award for the best Master's theses in food chemistry
The € 1000 prize for the best Master's thesis in food chemistry at the University of Münster was awarded to Louisa Sophie Toelke at the 2024 Master's graduation ceremony. The prize, sponsored by Wessling, part of ALS Limited, based in Altenberge, was presented by Claudia Urmetzer and Dr. Henning Kuchenbuch as representatives of the company during the ceremony on 29.11.2024.
Safety issues due to lithium-ion batteries
Consumers expect that everyday goods and toys do not adversely affect their health. Ingredients that have the potential to interact directly with the human genome - the DNA - are not permitted in these products. In order to detect DNA-damaging effects, standard protocols such as the cell-based micronucleus test have been approved by the European Food Safety Authority for safety assessment. The disadvantage of this method is that it is extremely time-consuming and subjective, as the DNA changes are detected optically using fluorescence microscopy.
Accelerating processes by approx. two weeks per test compound
In her master's thesis, Louisa Sophie Toelke succeeded in transferring this manual, fluorescence microscopy-based test system to a fast, automated flow cytometric method. This included both the actual measurement and the establishment of a software-supported evaluation. The new method captures a significantly larger number of cells, which enables a better statistical evaluation, among other things. Other significant advantages are the extreme time savings of approx. two weeks per test substance and the simultaneous recording of two other endpoints relevant to the safety assessment - survival rate of the model organisms and changes in the cell cycle phases.
Project within the framework of the International Graduate School BACCARA
Louisa Sophie Toelke tested the robustness of her established method using known DNA-damaging cytostatics and various additives that stabilize lithium-ion batteries, which are found in a large number of everyday objects and toys today and are part of the research at the International Graduate School BACCARA in Muenster. The jury of the Master's Prize was impressed by the wide range of possible applications of the method to strengthen consumer protection and the outstanding implementation of the project as part of the Master's thesis “Toxicological characterization of additives of lithium-ion batteries and their resulting aging products”.