Timing, hosts and locations of (grouped) events of NanoImpactNet

or proteins associated with particular pathways (e.g.
such as oxidative stress in cell lines) relate to higher
level in vivo effects;
− the fitness for purpose of existing risk assessment
approaches designed for standard chemicals for use
with ENPs and the modifications needed to allow
existing frameworks and policies to be used in future
for the risk assessments of nanotechnology products.
By studying the fate and behaviour of the selected ENPs and
their effects on biota, NanoFATE will go beyond the superficial
initial assessments that have been possible so far, thereby
enabling a scientifically rigorous analysis in relation to each of
the above aspects. The data gained in meeting each of the nine
NanoFATE objectives will allow us to go beyond the current
state-of-the-art as set out in the section below.
3.2 Current baseline of knowledge and points
where NanoFATE will progress beyond the
state-of-the-art in meeting project objectives.
Obj.1: Design and manufacture of tagged ENPs for tracking in
fate and toxicity studies.
Baseline. Differentiation of ENPs from the natural background
has been a critical problem in understanding their fate in
complex environmental systems. Even though some of the ENP
core metals have low concentrations in the environment (Ce
and to an extent Ag), approaches beyond simple elemental
analysis using ICP-MS based methods are needed to study the
partition process that determine the final destiny of ENPs.
Furthermore, some types of labelled nano-sized particles (e.g.
fluorescent silica NP) that have been used to track fate in the
environment often lack the physical characteristics of
production ENPs and so can not be expected to behave in a
similar way to commercial ENPs. As a result, specifically
designed ENPs that can mimic commercial particles, are needed
to support the fate and effects work conducted in WP 2, WP3,
WP 4 and WP 5.
NanoFATE progression beyond the “state-of-the-art”. To
undertake realistic real world fate studies, NanoFATE will design
and fabricate ENPs “tagged” with selected ions that are
detectable in bulk samples that will offer real advantages over
the current state-of-the-art. ENPs tagged with ions of low
background in the environment can under ideal conditions be
detected by elemental analysis. Further, using
cathodoluminescence spectroscopy it will be possible to detect
the nanoparticles in small samples and investigate their degree
of aggregation. Since the tagged ions will be inside the
particles, they do not affect their behaviour and are also
protected from chemical attack in the environment, hence
preserving the tag:ENP ratios.
To provide tagged particles for use in NanoFATE, partners, IHPP,
UOXF.DJ and UGOT will work together to identify any available
uniquely identifiable ENPs suitable for off the shelf use that are
relevant to the three product groups and incorporate particle
types considered in NanoFATE. Where suitable tagged ENPs are
NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
not available, these will be synthesised by IHPP with input from
UOXF.DJ. These two partners have particular experience in ENP
design, production and characterisation. Acquisition or
production of the tagged ENPs will be done with consideration
to match the properties of the two variant ENPs of each type
selected for NanoFATE. Studies will be conducted to validate
the ability to track designed tagged ENPs within sewage
treatment systems, environmental media and organisms. The
resulting information will help the design of the targeted studies
in WP 2 and WP 5 that will address these issues in detail. The
detailed work to be conducted to meet this objective is set-out
below.
1. NT and AXME will allow access to existing ENPs that are
currently used commercially in our target product types
(diesel additives, cosmetics, antimicrobial surfaces and
products). These partners will also provide information on
particle properties and characteristics to support detailed
experimentation, to establish how closely tagged particles
generated in our project match these commercially
available ENPs.
2. IHPP will use their solvothermal process, in which a mixture
of chemicals soluble in a water-ethanol mixture is enclosed
in a pressure vessel and heated using microwaves to nearly
supercritical conditions, to produce rare earth metaltagged
nanoparticles in volumes that can be supplied to all
partners (Lojkowski, 2008; Cabanas et al., 2007). This
manufacturing method allows ENPs of different core
chemistries, sizes and coatings to be produced, with none
of the disadvantages (poor ion concentration control,
particle aggregation) associated with gas phase or wet
chemical synthesis. Initial product particle characterisation
(surface bonds, zeta potential, surface charge and particle
size) will be undertaken.
3. UOXF.DJ will lead particle characterisation, measuring
surface bonds, zeta potential and light scattering of ENPs
will be determined by combinations of X-ray diffraction,
electron microscopy, infra-red and Raman spectroscopy
and dynamic light scattering to provide measurements of
surface charge and particle size. When studies include work
focusing on properties in environmental media, UOXF.DJ
and UGOT will collaborate.
4. UGOT will refine Flow Field-Flow Fractionation with high
resolution ICP-MS (FLFFF-HR-ICP-MS), and if needed other
in situ trace techniques (Stolpe and Hassellöv 2007), for
detecting the interactions of the selected sets of tagged
and untagged particles with environmental colloids in order
to establish the methods for later detailed work targeted in
Obj 3 that will be conducted in WP 2.
Obj.2: Generate models for predicting the likely levels and states
of ENPs in receiving waters and soils.
Baseline. Current publicly available databases provide
information on the use of ENPs within nanotechnology products
(e.g. Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies) and this in turn
provides information on the magnitude and nature of potential
sources of ENP released into the environment. This
identification of sources within consumer products has allowed
Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster 95