US – Page 146 – TechConnect Briefs

A Regulator’s Approach to Nanomaterials

Takatori S., Wong J., California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), US

Policymakers and regulators appear to have a mistaken belief that a singular overarching definition of “engineered nanomaterials” is a requirement for any possible regulatory strategy. Previous attempts, most recently by the European Commission, have shown [...]

Characterization of a Vortex Shaking Method for Producing Airborne Glass Fibers for Toxicology Studies

Ku B.K., Deye G., Turkevich L.A., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), US

Current fiber measurement techniques arose primarily due to health concerns over asbestos exposure. Fiber toxicity appears to be mostly a function of fiber concentration, dimensions (diameter and length) and durability in the lungs. A fiber [...]

Cytotoxic Effects of Four Metallic Oxide Nanoparticles on Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Neurons

Lu S., Bhushan A., Leung S.W., Daniels C.K., Lai J.C.K., Idaho State University, US

Metallic oxide nanoparticles have diverse industrial applications because of their exploitable physico-chemical and other properties. Consequently, the occupational environmental exposure of humans to these nanparticles is increasing; however, the health impact of their exposure has [...]

Cytotoxicity of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles in Schwann Cells

Idikuda V.K., Jaiswal A.R., Wong Y.Y.W., Bhushan A., Leung S.W., Lai J.C.K., Idaho State University, US

Diverse applications of metal oxide nanoparticles in various industries have been accelerating in the last decade. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles have been employed in ceramics, and as adhesive and additive in chemical raw materials, leading [...]

Cytotoxic Effects of Short Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes in Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Neurons

Lai J.C.K., Gao W., Bhushan A., Leung S.W., Idaho State University College of Pharmacy, US

Because of their unique physico-chemical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have found their way into diverse industrial and biomedical applications. Their escalating uses in multiple industries result in enhanced occupational human exposure to CNTs. However, the [...]

Evaluating safety and stability of CNT nanocomposites exposed to environmental conditions

Orlov A., Ramakrishnan G., Ging J., Hubert A., Feka P., Korach C.S., Stony Brook University, US

There is a growing interest in the development of nanocomposites consisting of organic polymers and various nanomaterials. These materials can provide unique functionalities as compared to unmodified polymers in terms of dielectric behavior, thermal and [...]

A safer formulation concept for flame-generated engineered nanomaterials

Gass S., Pyrgiotakis G., Cohen J.M., Sotiriou G.A., Pratsinis S.E., Demokritou P., Harvard School of Public Health, US

Engineering less toxic ENMs that maintain valuable functional properties is crucial to the sustainability of the nanotech industry. Core-shell nanoparticles are particularly interesting in this regard. They exhibit the surface properties of their shells while [...]

The Effect of Photolysis on the Stability and Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles

Poda A.R., Kennedy A.J., US Army Corps of Engineers, US

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of solar irradiation on the aggregation kinetics and toxicity of a 50 nm silver nanoparticle capped with two different stabilization agents (polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and citrate). [...]

Tools and Approaches for the Assessment of Nanomaterial Induced Oxidative DNA Damage

Petersen E.J., Marquis B.J., Jaruga P., Dizdaroglu M., Nelson B.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology, US

Determining the effects of various surface coatings on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is critical given the numerous expected applications of CNTs and their inevitable release into ecosystems. To explore the potential ecotoxicological effects of CNT surface [...]

Multimedia Environmental Distribution of Nanomaterials

Liu H.H., Cohen Y., University of California, Los Angeles, US

In the present study, a generalized model of the multimedia environmental distribution of engineered nanomaterial is developed via multimedia fate and transport modeling to estimate potential exposure levels in various environmental compartments. In this model, [...]