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Recent Advances in the Risk Assessment and Management of Nanomaterials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 14013

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Universita Ca' Foscari Venezia, Venice, Italy
Interests: material characterization; nanomaterials; biomaterials; nanoparticles; nanotechnology; nanobiotechnology; risk assessment; nanochemistry; nanomedicine; bionanotechnology

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Guest Editor
Edinburgh, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
Interests: biological chemistry; biophysics and bioengineering; nanomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is one of the key emerging technologies identified in the European Union’s 2020 Strategy. It has huge potential to contribute to innovation and economic growth, and therefore fosters large investments in developing new products. However, current uncertainties around the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) risks of manufactured nanomaterials are raising societal concerns about the adequacy of their regulation. Failure to effectively assess the risks posed by nanomaterials may reduce the benefits from nanotechnology. The need to resolve these uncertainties has resulted in over a decade of targeted research to gain knowledge on the intrinsic and extrinsic physicochemical identity of nanomaterials, their release and exposure potential, (eco)toxicological effects, nano-bio interactions, modes of action and adverse outcome pathways, in order to assess their risks and develop adequate risk management/governance strategies, including, for example, safety by design. The field of nanotoxicology has grown enormously from a methodological perspective, and is extremely interdisciplinary; with contributions from materials science, chemistry, environmental science, toxicology, statistics and informatics now commonplace in the nanoEHS literature. As a result, the time is ripe for looking at where we are now and trying to establish where the field should go in the future—this is the goal of this Special Issue.

Dr. Danail Hristozov
Prof. Dr. Helinor Johnston
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Nanomaterials
  • nanosafety
  • health and environmental risks
  • risk assessment
  • nanotoxicology
  • nano-bio interactions
  • hazard assessment
  • exposure assessment
  • safety by design
  • adverse outcome pathway
  • risk management
  • risk governance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 1916 KiB  
Article
Risk Management Framework for Nano-Biomaterials Used in Medical Devices and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products
by Elisa Giubilato, Virginia Cazzagon, Mónica J. B. Amorim, Magda Blosi, Jacques Bouillard, Hans Bouwmeester, Anna Luisa Costa, Bengt Fadeel, Teresa F. Fernandes, Carlos Fito, Marina Hauser, Antonio Marcomini, Bernd Nowack, Lisa Pizzol, Leagh Powell, Adriele Prina-Mello, Haralambos Sarimveis, Janeck James Scott-Fordsmand, Elena Semenzin, Burkhard Stahlmecke, Vicki Stone, Alexis Vignes, Terry Wilkins, Alex Zabeo, Lang Tran and Danail Hristozovadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Materials 2020, 13(20), 4532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13204532 - 13 Oct 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6808
Abstract
The convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology has led to substantial advancements in nano-biomaterials (NBMs) used in medical devices (MD) and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP). However, there are concerns that applications of NBMs for medical diagnostics, therapeutics and regenerative medicine could also pose [...] Read more.
The convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology has led to substantial advancements in nano-biomaterials (NBMs) used in medical devices (MD) and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP). However, there are concerns that applications of NBMs for medical diagnostics, therapeutics and regenerative medicine could also pose health and/or environmental risks since the current understanding of their safety is incomplete. A scientific strategy is therefore needed to assess all risks emerging along the life cycles of these products. To address this need, an overarching risk management framework (RMF) for NBMs used in MD and ATMP is presented in this paper, as a result of a collaborative effort of a team of experts within the EU Project BIORIMA and with relevant inputs from external stakeholders. The framework, in line with current regulatory requirements, is designed according to state-of-the-art approaches to risk assessment and management of both nanomaterials and biomaterials. The collection/generation of data for NBMs safety assessment is based on innovative integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA). The framework can support stakeholders (e.g., manufacturers, regulators, consultants) in systematically assessing not only patient safety but also occupational (including healthcare workers) and environmental risks along the life cycle of MD and ATMP. The outputs of the framework enable the user to identify suitable safe(r)-by-design alternatives and/or risk management measures and to compare the risks of NBMs to their (clinical) benefits, based on efficacy, quality and cost criteria, in order to inform robust risk management decision-making. Full article
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10 pages, 3192 KiB  
Article
Bacterial Adhesion on Femtosecond Laser-Modified Polyethylene
by Karin Schwibbert, Friederike Menzel, Nadja Epperlein, Jörn Bonse and Jörg Krüger
Materials 2019, 12(19), 3107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12193107 - 24 Sep 2019
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 3712
Abstract
In this study, femtosecond laser-induced sub-micrometer structures are generated to modify polyethylene (PE) surface topographies. These surfaces were subjected to bacterial colonization studies with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as test strains. The results reveal that the nanostructures do not influence S. aureus [...] Read more.
In this study, femtosecond laser-induced sub-micrometer structures are generated to modify polyethylene (PE) surface topographies. These surfaces were subjected to bacterial colonization studies with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as test strains. The results reveal that the nanostructures do not influence S. aureus coverage, while the adhesion of E. coli is reduced. Full article
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13 pages, 3385 KiB  
Article
Mobility and Fate of Cerium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, and Copper Nanoparticles in Agricultural Soil at Sequential Wetting-Drying Cycles
by Mikhail Ermolin, Natalia Fedyunina and Olesya Katasonova
Materials 2019, 12(8), 1270; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12081270 - 18 Apr 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3061
Abstract
Study on the behavior and fate of nanofertilizers in soil plays a key role in the assessment of the efficiency of their use for intended purposes. The behavior of nanoparticles (NPs) in soil depends on environmental scenarios, such as Wetting-Drying cycles (WDCs). In [...] Read more.
Study on the behavior and fate of nanofertilizers in soil plays a key role in the assessment of the efficiency of their use for intended purposes. The behavior of nanoparticles (NPs) in soil depends on environmental scenarios, such as Wetting-Drying cycles (WDCs). In the present work, the mobility and fate of CeO2, ZnO, and Cu NPs in agricultural soil at sequential WDCs have been studied. It has been shown that the mobility of CeO2 and ZnO NPs decreases after each WDC. After four WDCs the relative amount of CeO2 and ZnO NPs leached from soil decreases from 0.11 to 0.07% and from 0.21 to 0.07%, correspondingly. The decrease in the mobility of NPs is caused by their immobilization by water-stable soil aggregates, which are formed at sequential WDCs. Cu NPs are dissolved by soil solution, so their mobility (in ionic forms) increases after each subsequent WDCs. The relative content of Cu2+ sourced from Cu NPs increases up to 0.88% after four WDCs. It has been found that mineral NPs of soil can play an important role in the transport of insoluble engineered NPs. As for soluble NPs, the kinetics of their dissolution governs their mobility in ionic forms. Full article
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