directory of the spanish nanotechnology community - Fundación ...

Technical Consulting Services. Beyond service provision, the CNBSS is helping industrial and
academic partners choose the most adequate analyses, products or R&D strategies for their
development of safe and sustainable Nanotechnology products for use in society.
An observatory on Good Practices and Regulation, through a robust open-access system
comprising a complete repository dedicated to Nanosafety and Sustainability, featuring an optimised
interface. The Observatory will include a comprehensive collection of published information on the
effects of exposure to nanoparticles and nanostructured materials on human health and the
environment. The repository will centre on three axes: Regulation, Good Laboratory Practice, and
Knowledge Dissemination.
A platform of resources for experts involved in the field. By writing, and responding to, editorial
articles, members of and contributors to the CNBSS can provide their expert opinion, focus on
specific issues, engage in debates or simply share ideas. For example, the CNBSS has organised
various workshops and events to promote the safe and sustainable lab-to market development of
Nanotechnology (NanoSustainability Workshop, Re-Thinking Nano Workshop, etc.).
A platform for dissemination and education that reaches a general audience. The CNBSS is
committed to disseminating and promoting the safe and sustainable application of Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology among the general public, especially amongst young people. For example, the
Centre recently collaborated with Fundació La Caixa at CosmoCaixa, Barcelona’s largest science
museum, to help them develop a new exhibition (currently open) on the power and beauty of
nanoparticles. Furthermore, to facilitate advances in the multidisciplinary field of Nanotoxicology, the
CNBSS has also developed a free-online nanoparticle concentration convertor
(www.cnbss.eu/nanoparticlesconvertor).
Main related relevant activities / projects
In 2010, the Centre was granted its initial funding by the local and national governments (Generalitat de
Catalunya and the then Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, respectively).
The CNBSS is currently researching safe and sustainable applications of nanomaterials and
Nanotechnology. For example, it is studying the integration of nano-objects in polymers and the safety of the
resulting materials; the development of sustainable (more efficient) materials; health and safety issues for
labourers that work with nanomaterials; and the development of nanomaterials in the field of Energy.
Despite its young age, the CNBSS boasts a scientific background based on numerous national and
European projects on Nanotechnology—above all, in the field of Nanosafety, inlcuding QNano (FP7-
INFRASTRUCTURES), NanoTOES (FP7-MARIE CURIE ITN), NanoPolytox (FP7-NMP), CONSOLIDER –
NANOBIOMED (Spanish Government) and DIPNA (FP6-NMP-STRP).
Other information
Sample characterisation and analysis: The CNBSS offers its expertise in several characterisation
techniques (AFM, TEM, SEM, EDX, EELS, XRD, SAED, UV-VIS, XPS, ICPMS, DLS, zeta-potential, gel
electrophoresis, Western blot, fluorimetry, and chromatography) to industry partners and to the general
public. We characterise diverse sample types (water, food, medical, etc.) and provide in-depth analyses of
the results.
Supply of high-quality nanoparticles: A section of the CNBSS staff, has an established track record as a
supplier of high-quality, optimally designed nanoparticles (see, for example: Science 2011 (334), 1377-
1380), for academic research, R&D applications, and industrial and commercial enterprises. Also, depending
on the nature of the destination project, the CNBSS can provide these samples at minimum cost.
Directory of the Spanish Nanotechnology Community Page 92 of 134