Sustainable Nanotechnology Conference 2015

Europe/Rome
NH Laguna Palace Hotel

NH Laguna Palace Hotel

Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
Description
The Sustainable Nanotechnology Conference 2015 is a forum for nanotechnology researchers, industry, and regulators to present and discuss research findings on the interface between nanotechnology and sustainability. It is being jointly organized by the US Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO), and two large EU research projects: SUN and GUIDEnano. Perspectives on the implications and applications of nanotechnology will be provided by leading experts in EU and USA.

Topics
• Life cycle thinking
• Environmental release and fate of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs)
• Environmental, occupational and consumer exposure to ENMs
• Environmental and human health impacts of ENMs
• Safe production, handling and disposal of ENMs
• Regulatory and industrial decision support for sustainable nanotechnologies
• Nanotechnology applications for sustainability
• Societal implications of nanotechnology
• Curriculum and training for sustainable nanotechnology
Instructions for posters
Location floormap
Travel guidance
    • 8:30 AM 9:00 AM
      Welcome and Registrations Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 9:00 AM 9:15 AM
      Welcome & Introduction of the conference Plenary

      Plenary

      Antonio Marcomini, Barbara Karn, Socorro Vázquez-Campos, Danail Hristozov

    • 9:15 AM 10:00 AM
      Plenary Lecture 1: Nanotechnology path to Sustainable Society Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Speaker: Mihail Roco

      • 9:15 AM
        Nanotechnology path to Sustainable Society 45m Plenary

        Plenary

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Nanoscale science and engineering supports a foundational technology with implications on sustainability of economy, environment and overall societal development. Special challenges are balanced, equitable and safe affirmation of the technology. By establishing controlled synthesis and processing of matter at the nanoscale, nanotechnology would require fewer amounts of materials, water, and energy; and with the high degree of precision in nanomanufacturing we are generating less pollution for the same functionality. This presentation will focus on evolution of priorities since 2000. The long-view of nanotechnology development has three stages, each dominated by a different focus: phenomenological basics and synthesis of nanocomponents (2000-2010), nanosystem integration by design for fundamentally new products (2010-2020), and creation of new technology platforms based on new nanosystem architectures (2020-2030)(www.wtec.org/nano2/). Such development raises significant sustainability opportunities and challenges. Nanoscale science and engineering is expected to converge with biotechnology, information technology, cognitive technologies and other knowledge and technology domains resulting in an increase of the complexity and uncertainty of the secondary effects (“Converging Knowledge, Technology and Society: Beyond Nano-Bio-Info-Cognitive Technologies”, Springer 2013, www.wtec.org/NBIC2-Report/). Nanotechnology development and sustainability are seen as two key interdependent invariants for future society. Convergence principles can provide guidance how to plan and better implement sustainable nanotechnology.
        Speaker: Mihail Roco (US National Science and Technology Council)
        Slides
    • 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
      Discussion Panel 1: Environmental applications: Water Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Chair: Paul Westerhoff
      Panelists: Tony Byrne (photolysis),
      Jean-Yves Bottero (ZVI), Gilbert Rios (bio-inspired membranes)

    • 11:00 AM 11:30 AM
      Coffee break 30m Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

    • 11:30 AM 1:30 PM
      1A Occupational & Consumer Exposure: Parallel session
      • 11:30 AM
        Current state of knowledge when it comes to consumer exposure to nanomaterial embedded in a solid matrix 24m
        Little is known about consumer exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) stemming from NM-containing consumer products. Here, we focus especially on studies that have investigated the release of ENMs from consumer products, investigating to what extent the information in the open literature can be used to fulfill the requirements outlined in the European chemical legislation, REACH. In total, we have identified about 75 publications of relevance and the number of publications is increasing every year. The most studied materials include silver and titanium dioxide NPs, CNTs and SiO2. If reported, we summarized the studies by identifying nanomaterial(s), product name, product type, Product or Article Category according to REACH; experimental setup, total content in product, information on release, techniques used for characterization of nanomaterials both in product matrix and in the released form. For studies that report enough information, we developed potential exposure scenarios and derived exposure estimates according to REACH R.16 using the Tier 1 equations for consumer exposure estimation and Tier 1 tools i.e. ECETOX TRA and Consexpo. In general, we find that the information and data provided by each of the studies rarely contain all the information entries that one would need to complete exposure assessments according to REACH.
        Speaker: Aiga Mackevica (DTU Environment, Technical University of Denmark)
      • 11:54 AM
        Can weathering and processing release a nanoscale transparent organic pigment from the polymer matrix of consumer products? 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        "As nanomaterial containing materials may undergo changes during their production, use, and disposal, it is highly desirable to include their whole life cycle into an assessment of their safety. Coloristic pigments are used ubiquitously to give colour to plastics and paints. However, there is a knowledge gap with regard to their nano-specific safety. Therefore, we studied the release of an organic pigment (Red 254) from a PE matrix after weathering or processing by drilling and sanding. Representative for a final product (e.g. car bumper) small plates were investigated. After weathering according to ISO protocol 4892-2, release measurements were performed by centrifugation, spectroscopy and gloss retention. The results clearly demonstrated that the amount of release particles is below the limit of quantification of 10 ppm. In addition, no changes of the plate surface as wells as no free nanoparticles could be observed which was investigated by electron microscopy and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). Drilling and sanding of the plates were realized in an aerosol chamber. Number, size and morphology of the released fragments were determined by well-established aerosol measurement techniques and by electron microscopy, and show correlation with shear forces. "
        Speaker: Nicole Neubauer (BASF SE)
      • 12:18 PM
        Exposures to Nanoparticles and Fibers during Manufacturing and Recycling of Polycarbonate Carbon Nanotube composites 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        "Additional Authors: Jacqueline Isaacs; Northeastern University, Dept. Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Susan Woskie, UMass Lowell, Dept. Work Environment Joey Mead; UMass Lowell, Dept. Plastics Engineering Abstract: This study investigated airborne nanoparticle exposures generated during injection molding and grinding of polycarbonate carbon nanotube composites (PC/CNT). Particle number concentration and size distribution were measured using a suite of real time instruments. Area samples were collected using an electrostatic precipitator and examined by transmission electron microscopy for particle morphology. Breathing zone samples were collected on nucleopore filters. Respirable fibers were counted with a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that processing and grinding during recycling of PC/CNT released airborne nanoparticles with a geometric mean (GM) particle concentration from 4.71 x103 to 1.75 x106 particles/cm3. The ratios of GM particle concentration measured during the process to the background particle count were high up to 1.3 (loading), 1.9 (melting), and 1.4 (molding), and 101 (grinding), indicating significant nanoparticle emissions from these processes. The various particle morphologies were observed including respirable and nanoscale particles, particles with protruding CNTs, and fibers, but no free CNTs. The breathing zone respirable fiber concentration during grinding ranged from non-detectable to 0.13 fiber/cm3. No clear evidence that nanoparticle exposures were affected by the number of recycling cycles (up to 20). Exposures controls should be instituted during synthesis, processing and recycling of PC/CNT composites."
        Speaker: Dhimiter Bello (UMass Lowell, Dept. Work Environment)
      • 12:42 PM
        Evaluation of nano exposure models 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        A previously developed conceptual model (Schneider et al., 2011) offers a framework to describe the processes that affect the emission (at the source) and the fate of manufactured nanoparticles during transport to the receptor. This model was used to critically review available models for estimating occupational and consumer exposure and their applicability for exposure to NOAA. A selection of these models (ART and Stoffenmanager Nano) was additionally evaluated by using existing exposure data to test the relative performance. Measurement data from various exposure scenarios with Al2O3, SiO2, and TiO2 measured with the SMPS and APS were selected based on data availability and data quality. Correlation between model estimations and (metric converted) measured concentrations were calculated using both Spearman and Pearson correlation. For two of the three substances tested in this performance check, the ART estimations fit good. Also the Stoffenmanager Nano showed a trend matching the measurement data for the same substances. It is strongly advised to expand this performance check to more activities and thus more variation in exposure concentrations, but also to other exposure estimation tools.
        Speaker: Wouter Fransman (TNO)
      • 1:06 PM
        Inhalation exposure and dermal deposition of airborne particles during electrostatic spraying of liquid TiO2-based nanocoating 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Additional authors: Alexander C.Ø. Jensen; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; alj@nrcwe.dk Kirsten I Kling; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; kil@nrcwe.dk Marcus Levin; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; mle@nrcwe.dk Asger W. Nørgaard; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; awn@nrcwe.dk Keld A. Jensen; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; kaj@nrcwe.dk Abstract: Exposure assessment models are increasingly being used for regulatory purposes. Risk assessments should cover all potential exposure routes where inhalation, ingestion and dermal are most common pathways for uptake. Here, we measured particles dispersion and deposition during electrostatic spraying of liquid coating product containing TiO2 nanoparticles in a 20 m3 chamber. The ventilation rate was 0.5 h-1 while the temperature and relative humidity was 23 °C and 50 %, respectively, corresponding to typical indoor environment atmospheric conditions. Surfaces of tiles and wallpaper (2 m2) were sprayed for 15 and 150 seconds to mimic low and high exposure, respectively. A near field, far field, and breathing zone size-resolved concentrations were measured with a time resolution of 1 second. For electron microscopy analysis, we collected samples of deposited particles from walls, floor, and worker knee, hand, and face. This will show relative particle deposition on the worker when compared to the chamber surfaces. Preliminary results show that the air was fully mixed inside the chamber after few seconds from the start of spraying. Thus, here the particles dispersion can be described with a single zone model. This study will be used in parameterization of the inhalation and dermal exposure assessment model.
        Speaker: Antti J. Koivisto (National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark)
    • 11:30 AM 1:30 PM
      1B Ecotoxicology, effects on ecosystem services & ecological risks: Parallel session
      • 11:30 AM
        Fish cell lines as in vitro models for ecotoxicology testing of engineered nanomaterials 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Fish cells maintained in vitro constitute an interesting tool to obtain information about the toxic action of a wide variety of substances, including nanomaterials, facilitating their prioritization for further testing or even being used directly in risk assessment. The aim of the present study was to assess the toxicity of a broad array of ENM (CeO2, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), SiO2, silver, TiO2 and ZnO obtained from the JRC repository) using two fish cell lines as in vitro models: the topminnow fish (Poeciliopsis lucida) hepatoma cell line (PLHC-1) and the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fibroblast-like gonadal cell line (RTG-2). Cytotoxicity was evaluated after 24 h of exposure with alamarBlue, CFDA-AM and neutral red assays. Exposure to ENM resulted in a cell- and dose-dependent increase of cytotoxicity being PLHC-1 the most sensitive cell type. The ENMs used exhibited the following ranking in toxicity: Ag>ZnO>MWCNT = SiO2=TiO2=CeO2. Alterations of lysosome functionality and disruption of metabolic activity were the primary mechanisms of toxic action of AgNM and ZnONM, respectively. This study shows the appropriateness of fish in vitro models to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the toxic action of ENM, information that can be used in the framework of intelligent testing strategies. Acknowledgements: this work was financially supported by FP7 MARINA project (263215)
        Speaker: Azucena Bermejo-Nogales (INIA)
      • 11:54 AM
        Mechanisms underlying the enhancement of toxicity caused by coincubation of ZnO and Cu nanoparticles 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Hernández-Moreno D.1, Li L. 2, Connolly M. 1, Conde E. 3, Fernández M. 3, Schuster M. 4, Navas J.M. 1, Fernández-Cruz M.L. 1* 1. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Carretera de la Coruña Km 7 Madrid, Spain 2. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China 3. Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid 28040, Spain 4. Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Garching 85747, Germany *fcruz@inia.es Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of toxicity produced by co-incubation of copper (CuNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in the fish hepatoma cell line PLHC-1 after 48 h of exposure. Cells were exposed to CuNP 50 nm at a range of concentrations (0.39 - 25.0 μg/mL), alone or in combination with ZnONP (25 and 100 nm) at a non-toxic concentration of 6.25 μg/mL. For both NPs, cells were exposed to suspensions (nanoparticles) or to supernatants (ions), and their combinations. Viability of cells was evaluated by the MTT cytotoxicity assay. Data about the characterization and behavior of the NPs in the cells was obtained by TEM, DLS and ICP- MS. Cytotoxicity was enhanced when cells where coexposed to both NPs suspensions and after exposure to CuNPs supernatant and ZnONPs 25 nm suspension. Metal content was evaluated for each combination of CuNPs and ZnONPs suspensions and supernatants. The intracellular concentration of Cu remained stable whereas Zn increased significantly when cells were exposed to: 1) ZnONP supernatants and CuNPs suspensions, 2) ZnONP suspensions and CuNP supernatants. Further studies by TEM are conducted to elucidate this mechanism. Acknowledgements: INIA project AT2011-001 and FP7 project GUIDEnano 604387. Keywords: Co-exposure, zinc oxide nanoparticle, copper nanoparticle, cytotoxicity
        Speaker: Maria Luisa Frenandez-Cruz (INIA, Spain)
      • 12:18 PM
        Copper nanoparticles or compounds impact agronomic and physiological parameters in cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        In this study, copper-based nanoparticle (NP) or compounds are investigated for their potential harm to the environment, using cilantro as the model species. Cilantro plants were exposed to Cu(OH)2, nanosized copper (nCu), microsized copper (uCu), nanosized copper oxide (nCuO), microsized copper oxide (uCuO), and CuCl2 at 20 and 80 mg/kg soil. After 30 days exposure, plant size, Cu accumulation, and chlorophyll content were measured by a ruler, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and SPAD chlorophyll meter, respectively. Results showed no effects on root length, but shoot elongation decreased by 12.4% on plants exposed to 80 mg/kg nCu and by 11 % in plants exposed to uCuO at 20 and 80 mg/kg. ICP-OES results showed a reduction trend in root copper of all treatments, even though no statistically significant differences were evident compared to control; while the amount of copper in shoots was significantly higher for all treatments, compared to control. Chlorophyll content decreased significantly on plants exposed to 20 mg/kg uCuO, but increased on plants exposed to Cu(OH)2, nCu, and uCuO at 80 mg/kg. Overall, uCuO showed higher toxicity to cilantro, compared to nanoparticulate copper.
        Speaker: Nubia Zuverza-Mena (UTEP)
        Slides
      • 12:42 PM
        Trophic Transfer Potential of Nanoparticles In Terrestrial Food Chains 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Speaker: Jason White (CT Agricultural Experiment Station)
        Slides
      • 1:06 PM
        The effects of nanomaterials of individual species and ecosystem service 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        The use of nanomaterials is now widespread and therefore it isexpected that they will eventually end up in the environment.  The environmental effects of nanomaterials are now widely investigated on a wide range of organisms and endpoints. Nevertheless there is still much lack of information on their effects on multi-species systems and ecosystem services. In this presentation the effects of nanomaterials in multi-species  systems is exhaustively analysed and reported and an assessment on the importance and suitability of ecosystem-level studies evaluated.
        Speaker: Simon Little (Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK)
    • 11:30 AM 1:30 PM
      1C Life Cycle Thinking & LCA
      • 11:30 AM
        Contribution of nanotechnology and nanomaterials to increased sustainability of industrial products and processes 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        An overview is presented of some of the opportunities for nanotechnology in real-world industrial applications. A wide range of industries and manufacturing processes are already being or are likely to be impacted by current advances in nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Significant improvements in energy and resource efficiency could potentially be achieved by the implementation of nanotechnology in industrial settings. Developments in nanomaterials can be expected to reduce energy and raw materials consumption and emissions through cleaner, less wasteful production methods. This should ultimately assist in the creation of greener manufacturing processes and a low carbon economy. Examples are given illustrating the advantages of nanomaterials in diverse industrial sectors such as electronics, aerospace, construction, energy, water, catalysts and forest products. The essential role of life-cycle analysis in evaluating the sustainability of nanotechnology enabled products and risk assessment for identifying the health and environmental effects of nanomaterials is discussed.
        Speaker: David G. Rickerby (European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability)
        Slides
      • 11:50 AM
        Brazilian scenario in sustainable nanotechnology 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanoscale materials are used in diverse areas, and the huge potential of these technologies resulted in a considerable growth in investment in research and development worldwide. Since the 2000â•˙s the Brazilian government has set a national program to develop and disseminate nanotechnology. Brazil was the 25th country in the world ranking of publications in this field in 2006. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the scientific production related to sustainable nanotechnology in Brazil, through conducting a systematic literature review until December 2014. The criteria involved the establishment of keywords and search platforms. The articles were classified into sustainable nanotechnology (13) and life cycle assessment (2). Literature highlights that after 2010 the discussion regarding the environmental impacts of the nanotechnology has increased. The environmental aspect was usually discussed in the field of risk assessment, but few studies aimed to quantify the impacts. Two studies of life cycle assessment were identified, both cradle to gate and focused in the inventory of the production of the nanomaterial in Brazil. This paper sets out to stress that as discussed worldwide, also in Brazil the internationally standardized method of LCA can help identify opportunities for reducing environmental impacts in the entire life cycle of nanoproducts.
        Speaker: Rachel Horta Arduin (IPT, Brazil)
        Slides
      • 12:10 PM
        New framework accounting for a spatial differentiation in the calculation of characterisation factors for the toxicity potential of nanomaterials 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A new modeling framework in life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is proposed for the calculation of Characterisation Factor (CF) for nanomaterials (such as nano-TiO2 or CNT) for toxicity impact categories. In the recently developed consensus model for ecotoxicity and human toxicity, the USEtoxTM model, the CF is calculated as the product of three factors: Fate Factor, Effect Factor, and Exposure Factor. As shown e.g. in Fantke et al., 2014, or in Sala et al., 2011, toxic impact categories need to have spatially‐differentiated models due to the evidence that differences in fate, exposure and effect mechanisms can vary significantly depending on different geographical contexts. Regarding nanomaterials, their fate and exposure is actually strongly affected by the physicochemical environmental condition; for example, the water chemistry affects the main processes of aggregation and sedimentation for nanomaterials in freshwater, i.e. the fate factor. Our study here describes a spatially-differentiated fate and exposure model for the calculation of CF for the impact categories freshwater ecotoxicity and human toxicity. The project represents another step in the ongoing efforts in order to improve methods for the assessment of the environmental sustainability of nanomaterials.
        Speaker: Beatrice Salieri (EMPA)
        Slides
      • 12:30 PM
        Approach for Human Toxicity and Freshwater Ecotoxicity midpoints determination for their inclusion in Life Cycle Assessment of nanotechnology-based products 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Elisabet Fernández-Rosas, LEITAT Technological Center, efernandez@leitat.org Gemma Vilar, LEITAT Technological Center, gvilar@leitat.org Marta Escamilla, LEITAT Technological Center, mescamilla@leitat.org Socorro Vázquez-Campos, LEITAT Technological Center, svazquez@leitat.org, Presenting Author Abstract: The increasing use of nano-enabled products has brought controversy due to the lack of data on their potential impact on human health and environment. On that concern, there is a consensus that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a suitable method to assess the environmental performance of this new technology, although LCA for nanotechnologies is challenging since there are a lot of uncertainties and data gaps and it is necessary to adapt some of the methodologies to determine the impacts of released nanomaterials. The NanoPolyTox project was designed to fill in some of these data gaps for nanocomposite applications, specifically focusing on the determination of Human Toxicity (HT) and Freshwater Ecotoxicity (FE), which contribute to damage on Human Health and on Ecosystems respectively. An approach for the determination of HT and FE impact characterization factors of released nanomaterials and their application on the evaluation of the environmental impacts of three polymeric nanocomposites for outdoors applications (MWCNT-PP, , TiO2-PA, ZnO-EVA) will be presented. This approach is based on a combination of release quantification over the different life-cycle stages (including use phase simulations and end-of-life treatments), fate modeling (using USEtox® as a starting point) and (eco)toxicity studies.
        Speaker: Socorro Vazquez-Campos (LEITAT Technological Center, Spain)
        Slides
      • 12:50 PM
        Precious metal recovery from nanowaste for sustainable nanotechnology: Current challenges and life cycle considerations 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The increasing use of nanomaterials poses new challenges for their disposal and waste management. Moreover, several nanotechnologies employ resource-limited materials, such as precious metals and rare earth elements. It is therefore essential to develop strategies to recover and recycle these materials from nanowaste, and thus make nanotechnology more sustainable. However, at present, neither well-established protocols nor federal regulations exist for nanowaste management and precious metal recovery from nanowaste. To address this issue, we developed laboratory-scale methods to recover gold from nanowaste. For our initial experiments, we used potassium tetrabromoaurate and citrate-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as simulated waste. Apha-cyclodextrin was used to recover gold via selective complexation, followed by downstream treatments to form chloroauric acid. Finally, the chloroauric acid from recovered gold was used to make new AuNPs. Besides developing new methods for recovering and recycling gold from nanowaste, we are also conducting life cycle assessment to compare the scenarios of gold production with and without recycling.  Our research can provide new insights into the chemistries involved in gold recovery, as well as into the life cycle considerations in nanowaste recycling. This research also has the potential to improve current waste management practices and inform future nanowaste management policies.
        Speaker: Peter Vikesland (Virginia Tech)
        Slides
      • 1:10 PM
        From laboratory to industrial scale: scale-up calculations of chemical processes for LCA 20m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        " Additional Authors: Stefan Seeger, University of Zurich Today, several LCAs of new materials are performed based on laboratory experiments. While this is helpful in understanding the production process, it gives no indication on how the environmental impact looks like for an industrial production. This also limits the comparability with existing material that is already produced in large quantities. The scale-up of chemical processes is not such a trivial process but involves a certain understanding of the involved steps. We present a framework on how to upscale chemical production processes for LCA purposes when only laboratory experiments are available. The calculations, estimations and considerations are designed to be used by LCA practitioners with limited knowledge in the field of chemistry or chemical engineering and help to perform such a scale-up based on a logical and systematic procedure. The developed framework is illustrated on the example of a nanocellulose case study.
        Speaker: Fabio Piccinno (EMPA)
        Slides
    • 1:30 PM 2:30 PM
      Lunch Break 1h Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

    • 2:30 PM 3:10 PM
      Plenary Lecture 2: Benchmark nanomaterials and case studies to challenge the decision criteria of a ‘multiple perspective grouping framework Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Speaker: Wendel Wohlleben

      • 2:30 PM
        Benchmark nanomaterials and case studies to challenge the decision criteria of a ‘multiple perspective grouping framework 40m Plenary

        Plenary

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Giventhe vast number and diversity of materials considered as nanomaterials (NM) by the EC nanodefinition, hazard and risk assessments of each and every variant of NM are impracticable, undesirable and stand in contradiction to the legal requirement to reduce animal testing. A comprehensive multiple perspective framework combines grouping by intrinsic material properties, grouping by use, release and route of exposure, grouping by system-dependent properties (‘bio-physical interactions’), grouping by uptake, biodistribution and biopersistence and grouping by early cellular and apical biological effects. Thereby, the multiple perspective framework moves away from grouping by intrinsic structure only. In the present talk, well-known benchmark NMs from the OECD sponsorship program are proposed to assign the above properties to tiers and to represent the four main groups of: passive NM, active NM, HAR NM, soluble NM. Due to the use of system-dependent properties in tier 2 (such as surface reactivity and dissolution in simulant fluids), some intrinsic properties that are often considered as essential (such as crystallinity) are not required to place a NM into the correct group. Case studies on less well-known but widespread NMs (organic pigments) challenge the tiered grouping scheme, with validation by in-vivo data.
        Speaker: Wendel Wohlleben (BASF SE)
    • 3:10 PM 4:10 PM
      Discussion Panel 2: Sustainable Nanotechnology Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Chairs: Danail Hristozov, Antonio Marcomini, Barbara Karn

    • 4:10 PM 4:30 PM
      Coffee break 20m Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

    • 4:30 PM 6:30 PM
      2A Toxicology and human health risks
      • 4:30 PM
        Toxicity and biodistribution of surface chemically modified Ag nanoparticles 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        With the advance in material science, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are modified by different surface coatings. However, how these surface modifications influence the effects of AgNPs on human health is still largely unknown. We have evaluated the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of AgNPs coated with citrate, polyethylene glycol, polyvinylvpyrolidone and branched polyethyleneimine (Citrate AgNPs, PEG AgNPs, PVP AgNPs and BPEI AgNPs, respectively). Our results demonstrated that the toxicity of AgNPs depends on the intracellular localization that was highly dependent on the surface charge. BPEI AgNPs (ζ potential = +46.5 mV) induced the highest cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation in Hepa1c1c7. In addition, it showed the highest damage to the nucleus of liver cells which is associated with a high accumulation in liver tissues. The PEG AgNPs (ζ potential = -16.2 mV) showed the lowest toxicity, a long blood circulation, as well as a high bioaccumulation in spleen, which suggest better biocompatibility. Moreover, the adsorption ability with bovine serum albumin revealed that the PEG AgNPs has an optimal biological inertia and can effectively resist opsonization or non-specific binding to protein in mice. This toxicological data could be useful in supporting the development of safe by design AgNPs for consumer products and drug delivery applications.
        Speaker: Chengfang Pang (Ca' Foscari Univeristy - Venice)
        Slides
      • 5:00 PM
        Nanotoxicology of cadmium sulfide quantum dots in different cellular models 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanotechnology is an emerging branch of applied science and technology for designing tools and devices at the nanoscale size (1-100 nm). Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have been widely used in fields such as electronics, medicine, physics, chemistry, biology, but also in the food and cosmetic industries. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of cellular uptake and biological interactions with the ENMs. Adsorption of biomolecules to nanomaterials may influence cellular uptake, inflammation, accumulation, degradation and clearance of the ENMs. Understanding such relations is crucial for generating bio-compatible nanomaterials with controlled surface characteristics in a biological environment or for ENM-targeted delivery. The aim of this work was to study the biological effects of cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) in different cellular models. Integrating omic approaches such as transcriptomics, proteomics and phenomics, we identify new biological pathways important for CdS QD stress tolerance in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) and human tumor cell lines. We have also investigated the capability of CdS QDs to adsorb human blood plasma or cell lysate proteins (yeast or tumor cell proteins) with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry identification (MALDI-TOF). In conclusion, our results provide new insights into the mechanisms of toxicity of metal-based nanomaterials.
        Speaker: Roberta Ruotolo (Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma)
      • 5:30 PM
        Surface reactivity of CuO NPs is responsible for the early oxidative damages to A549 cells: a Trojan-horse independent mechanism 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        "Abstract: Background It has been demonstrated that CuO NPs are highly cytotoxic for the most of mammalian cells. The classical Trojan horse mechanism is retained to be the driver of cell death mainly after long exposure periods. This work aims to demonstrate that CuO NPs may have specific cell reactivity in the first phases of exposure independent from intracellular ion dissolution. Methods CuO NPs with similar primary size but different crystallinity and extracellular ROS production (Perelshtein et al., 2014) were administered to A549 cells as model for human toxicity. After assessing of cell viability SH- oxidation and protein carbonylation were monitored by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. Electron microscopy techniques were used to investigate cell-particle interactions. Results All NPs induced very early oxidative stress leading to a significant cell viability decrease after 3-6h of exposure. This effect was more pronounced for semi-crystalline CuO NPs and was independent from extra- and intra-cellular copper release although particles were detected both on cell surface and in cytoplasm already after 1h of exposure. Conclusions CuO NPs induce very early cell oxidative responses related to the specific NP surface reactivity, with semi-crystalline CuO NPs displaying the higher cytotoxicity. Since CuO-based NMs have been suggested as powerful biocidals a better characterization of the reactions at the bio-interfaces may help nanotechnologist in the safe-by-design synthesis of new antimicrobials."
        Speaker: Elisa Moschini (University of Milano Bicocca)
        Slides
      • 6:00 PM
        Nanotechnologies and Sustainability in the fields of Architecture and Preservation of Cultural Heritage 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanotechnologies allow today many applications for building construction and cultural heritage preservation, through the availability on the market of smart materials, revolutionizing the traditional methods and techniques. These appear as groundbreaking and promising tools, being able to improve the performance of traditional building materials, like concrete, steel and glass. In particular, the several applications of nanotechnologies in the field of conservation of cultural heritage are transforming old procedures for intervention, overcoming the major faults characterizing some of the traditional products currently used, allowing a more reliable and sustainable preservation of artifacts by the use of non-toxic and environmentally friendly treatments. This contribution presents the state of the art of the major nanostructured products for building construction and cultural heritage preservation sectors, illustrating the main characteristics that make these products more sustainable. The increased performances, as improved strength and durability of materials are magnified also considering the reduction of the environmental footprint of the built environment throughout the efficient use of resources. Finally, this contribution underlines that, even if these nanomaterials are contributing to a significant change in our life, we must ensure that the potential risks are identified and controlled, through developing new appropriate standards and codes for their application.
        Speaker: Federica Fernandez (University of Palermo)
        Slides
    • 4:30 PM 6:30 PM
      2B Environmental exposure, release & fate
      • 4:30 PM
        Nanomaterial Fate and Exposure Research: Where we are now and where we need to be to model environmental exposure 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A decade of research on nanomaterial fate and exposure has led to greater understanding of the environmental fate of nanomaterials, their potential risks (and benefits), and an overall better understanding of the role of nanophase materials in environmental processes such as nutrient cycling. This research has also led to a better understanding of how the system complexity makes predicting nanomaterial behaviors challenging, and has identified the need for new tools and approaches to quantify and characterize nanomaterials in situ. Despite these advances in knowledge, there remains a gap between fundamental data collection and the data needs for developing and parameterizing models for predicting environmental flows, fate and exposure. This talk will summarize on the one hand the advances in understanding nanomaterial behavior in complex environmental systems made over the past decade, and will highlight the critical areas of research needed to continue advancing our understanding. On the other hand, it will present where we are standing with respect to understanding the actual flows of nanomaterials to the environment and possibilities to model their environmental fate. The future lays in a more intimate collaboration between experimental and modeling work and we will be plotting a path towards better coupling of experimental work and model development and validation.
        Speaker: Greg Lowry (Carnegie Mellon University)
        Slides
      • 4:50 PM
        Nanomaterials in a perspective of effects on ecosystem services and ecological risk 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Jose M. Navas, INIA, Dpt. of Environment, Ctra. de la Coruña Km 7, E-28040 Madrid, Spain jmnavas@inia.es Dick T.F.M. Roelofs, Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlandsdick.roelofs@vu.nl Kerstin Hund-Rinke Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Auf dem Aberg 1, D-57392 Schmallenberg;Germany kerstin.hund-rinke@ime.fraunhofer.de Monica J.B. Amorim Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal mjamorim@ua.pt The overall objective of this talk is to provide an overview of the tools that enables us to identify the long-term consequences of NMs on important ecosystems services. The focus will be on identifying tools for the environmental effects of long-term and repeated exposure to NMs as in production, in use and in wastes. There will be a special focus on ecosystems functions and species and on how rapid (including high throughput) tools can be used to provide information on potential long-term environmental consequences and impacts on services. The presentation will cover approaches for ecosystem services covering all media. It will also be discussed how such tools can be using on a probabilistic risk assessment. Within this talk we will also report the progress of the work performed within the SUN project.
        Speaker: Janeck J. Scott-Fordsmand (Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University)
        Slides
      • 5:10 PM
        A Dynamic Probabilistic Material Flow Modeling Method for Environmental Exposure Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Material flow modeling constitutes an important tool to predict and understand the flows of materials through the technosphere into the environment. We present a new ╲Dynamic Probabilistic Material Flow Assessment (DPMFA) method, combining dynamic material flow modeling with probabilistic modeling. The new method represents a significant step forward compared to established MFA or dynamic MFA methods because it allows to consider a large range of different uncertainties for all relevant model parameters. The modeler has the free choice to use distributions functions, or discrete data to describe the uncertainty of all parameters, allowing to make full use of the available data with varying degree of uncertainty. We implemented the method as simulation framework in Python to support experts from different domains in the development of their application models. In the talk we first introduce the DPMFA method and the simulation framework. Then we show an exemplarily application of the framework to predict current and future environmental concentrations of carbon nanotubes for Switzerland.
        Speaker: Nikolaus A. Bornhoft (EMPA)
        Slides
      • 5:30 PM
        Fate of fullerenes (C60) during peracetic acid (PAA) post disinfection of treated alum-enhanced combined sewer overflow (CSO) primary treatment 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Discharging combined sewer overflows (CSOs) directly or with minimal treatment into water bodies could elevate the concentrations of nanomaterials (NMs) in the receiving environment as a result of their extensive use in wide range of products. Among different NM types, fullerenes (C60) have been shown to pose risks on humans and aquatic organisms. Consequently, their fate and removal pathways should be assessed, and cost-effective and simple strategies to reduce their concentrations prior to their release should be developed. The objective of this study was to examine, for the first time, the fate of C60 in CSO when the effluent of alum-enhanced CSO primary treatment was disinfected with peracetic acid (PAA). A factorial design jar tests were firstly conducted to determine the optimum C60 removal conditions in terms of applied alum dose, mixing conditions and pH. At optimum coagulation conditions, the water was subjected to a post disinfection using PAA, and the effect of different PAA doses and contact times on the C60 transformation was investigated. The removal of C60 increased with the increase of contact time and applied PAA dose. It was also observed that acetic acid formation affected C60 detection. A further elucidation of the reaction mechanism and reaction by-products is underway.
        Speaker: Haitam Elnakar (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering- University of Alberta)
        Slides
      • 5:50 PM
        Dynamic Probabilistic Modelling of Environmental Emissions of Engineered Nanomaterials 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Currently little is known about engineered nanomaterial (ENM) concentrations in the environment. In 2009, we reported the first environmental concentrations for different ENM by applying probabilistic material flow modelling, which was recently updated to yield more comprehensive and up-to-date environmental concentrations of ENM. However, the used models are static and do not consider time-dependent processes. We present here results from a dynamic model that advances the estimation of environmental emissions and concentrations in two ways: first, instead of considering only one yearâ•˙s input and distribution, it takes a realistic time frame as the temporal boundary of the system and tracks the flows over many years. Second, rather than simply assuming that all ENM are released to waste streams and environmental compartments in the same year when they entered the system, time dependent ENM release from products are taken into account. This presentation focuses on the first results obtained for nano-TiO2, nano-ZnO, nano-Ag and CNTs. We combined the available information of ENM input, product life-time and release dynamics and were able to predict ╲real╡ environmental emissions and concentrations of ENM, especially the accumulated ENM concentration in sinks such as soils and sediments.
        Speaker: Tian Yin Sun (EMPA)
        Slides
      • 6:10 PM
        Implications of using inappropriate fate descriptors for engineered nanoparticles 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        There has been a lot of debate in recent years regarding appropriate fate descriptors for engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), needed to predict ENP concentrations and transport in different environmental compartments. It is tempting to simply apply concepts for conventional organic pollutants, such as the use of equilibrium partition coefficients (e.g. Kow, Kd) in fate and risk assessment of ENPs. However, due to their fundamentally different properties compared to organic chemicals, equilibrium partition coefficients lack a fundamental physical definition for ENPs and a fate assessment based on such coefficients is essentially meaningless. Here we present a few short case studies to demonstrate the implications of using any sort of ill-defined distribution coefficient in fate predictions for ENPs. We demonstrate the results of using operationally defined partition coefficients in different types of model preditions to exemplify why such coefficients cannot be used in the same universal manner as equilibrium partition coefficients are used in fate models for organic contaminants. Currently, model validations with field measurements of ENP concentrations in complex environmental matrices are not yet feasible, making it particularly important to carefully design environmental fate models for ENPs based on a strong theoretical understanding of the underlying processes to avoid making meaningless model predictions.
        Speaker: Antonia Praetorius (University of Vienna)
        Slides
    • 4:30 PM 6:30 PM
      2C Industrial decision support tools
      • 4:30 PM
        Conceptual framework for Sustainable Nanotechnologies Decision Support System (SUNDS) 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nano-innovation can be impeded by significant knowledge and data gaps in the Environmental Health and Safety effects of Engineered Nanomaterials. The European Commission has funded a project on sustainable nanotechnology (SUN, http://www.sun-fp7.eu/) that aims to build tools to assess ecological and human health risks, environmental impacts, risk management measures and benefits of nano-enabled products. These tools will be integrated within an overarching decision framework and support tool for Sustainable Nanotechnology to support the selection of risk management alternatives (e.g. safety by design technological alternatives, personal protective equipment) and benefit-risk evaluation of nano-enabled products. Design of the SUN Decision Support System (SUNDS) framework is also supported by a comprehensive elicitation of user needs from the industry, regulatory and insurance sector. The framework will be implemented in a user-friendly modular software and will be tested on the SUN case studies. We present SUNDS conceptual framework and user needs with respect to SUNDS features.
        Speaker: Vrishali Subramanian (Ca' Foscari Univeristy, Venice)
        Slides
      • 4:54 PM
        LICARA - guidelines for sustainable competitiveness of nanoproducts 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Roland Hischier, Empa,roland.hischier@empa.ch Bernd Nowack, Empa,bernd.nowack@empa.ch Ingrid Hincapie, Empa, ingrid.hincapie@empa.ch Dominic Notter, Empa, dominic.notter@empa.ch Harrie E. Buist, TNO,harrie.buist@tno.nl Wouter Fransman, TNO,wouter.fransman@tno.nl Jörg Güttinger, NCB,joerg.guettinger@ncb.ch Abstract: Small and medium sized enterprizes (SMEs) often lack resources to do a detailed assessment of benefits and risks of a new nanoproduct along its life cycle. The EU FP7 project LICARA has elaborated guidelines for developing safe and sustainable nanoproducts in order to support the decision making of SMEs. The guidelines intend to facilitate the communication within the value chain. SMEs should be supported to document their efforts for best practices and to communicate with their suppliers, clients, consumers and the authorities. The first part of the LICARA guidelines provides a stepwise approach and raises questions that can be answered qualitatively with a relatively low effort. It provides some background information that is currently only available as fragments in scientific literature but not in a condensed form. The second part describes the accompanying tool LICARA nanoSCAN, which enables SMEs to take a transparent more in-depth look by conducting an assessment in a semi-quantitative way. The third part provides information for further steps. The guideline is based on the scientific work of the research institutes TNO, Empa, RAS and the experiences of the private sector companies NCB, SNT, Freso, Nanothinx and AGPYME, which have been partners in the consortium of LICARA.
        Speaker: Claudia Som (EMPA)
        Slides
      • 5:18 PM
        Processing Nanoparticles in Suspension of High Solid Concentration: On-line Characterisation and Process Modelling 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        "Abstract: Manufacture of nanometre particulate form products in suspensions is becoming increasingly important to the pharmaceutical, speciality chemical, and functional material industries. For instance, nano-processing is now used as an effective drug-delivery method for solid form hydrophobic pharmaceuticals due to the dramatically increased drug solubility and bioavailability at nano-scale. The biggest challenge to nano-processing under industrial conditions has been highlighted as the difficulty in achieving consistency in product quality as characterised by particle size distribution. In this work, we report investigation on on-line characterisation and process modelling techniques that can be applied under industrial operational conditions. The research on on-line sensing is based on acoustic spectroscopy for real-time particle sizing. The work will tackle the key challenge posed by multiple scattering and particle-particle interactions, which are known to be the cause leading to incorrect measurement at high solid concentrations. High solid concentration is not only the economically viable range for commercial manufacture of nanoparticles (a much larger reactor would be required to process the same amount of particles in low concentration), but also technically essential for producing ultra-fine particles for many processes. The on-line real-time measurement will provide invaluable data to the development of process models using population balance equations. The focus will be on quantitatively deriving models for particle breakage and aggregation to be used in the population balance equations, as well as intelligent interpretation of the data to improve the qualitative understanding of the process. The process chosen for investigation is wet nano-milling, a very important operation for processing nanoparticles in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and materials industries. "
        Speaker: Ceyda Oksel (Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds)
        Slides
      • 5:42 PM
        Broadening our view on nanomaterials: highlighting potentials to contribute to a sustainable materials management in preliminary assessments 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Apart from completely novel functionalities, the utilization of nanomaterials (NMs) holds great promise for increasing the performance and efficiency of products and processes. In doing so, they are also expected to be more sustainable in that they may allow for products and processes that can provide better services using less material and energy. However, whether or not NMs do in fact contribute sustainable development still remains a matter of debate. While a relatively high number of risk assessment studies have revealed some of the toxicological and ecotoxicological repercussions of NMs, other sustainability related issues have so far received comparatively little attention. One of these issues refers to the sustainability implications of material use, such as environmental impacts of materials supply, resource depletion, or material criticality. Here, we argue that an adequate assessment of NM-based innovations calls for an inclusion not only of human health and environmental risks but also of aspects related to sustainable materials management. Recognizing the inherent complexity of sustainability issues as well as the difficulties of meeting data needs in early innovation stages, we propose a prospective and preliminary framework to assess the potential benefits and risks of NM-based innovations. We demonstrate the framework’s practicability and usefulness in decision-making contexts by applying it to four in-depth case studies of specific NM-based innovations. Also, we point to some methodological issues that may need consideration in the further improvement of the framework.
        Speaker: Henning Wigger (Department of Technological Design and Development, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen)
        Slides
      • 6:06 PM
        Anticipatory Ethics and Governance [AEG]: a Jurisprudential approach 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanotechnology (NT) - the deliberate and purposeful design production use andmanipulation of nanomaterials encompasses disciplines including but not limited to chemistry, physics, material sciences, engineering, information technology, biotechnologies. While there is significant uncertainty in relation to the possible risks of the consequences of NT, there is significant certainty that NT offers indisputable convenience and efficiencies in the context of consumer products; it offers enormous potential benefits in environmental remediation and in the rapidly evolving field of “nanomedicine” – in the areas of diagnostics, targeted drug delivery systems and disease monitoring. In this context it can make a valuable contribution to quality of life and well- being, particularly in developing countries (with an estimated population of 6-7 billion people) in relation to which close correlation between NT applications and six of the eight UNs millennium development goals has shown the capacity of NT to contribute to serious health, environmental and social issues.However, on the risk side, concerns have been raised in relation to the unknown risks of the potential hazard and harm to human health and safety, the environment and the earth’s biosphere. Risk requires oversight in the form of regulation, governance or a hybrid of both but regulation requires information and more certainty of scientific information than is presently available. To that end, NT risk and the lack of scientific certainty place regulators in a dilemma. NT presents regulators and policy makers with a paradigmatic “Wicked problem”. In the EU, regulation is largely framed on the basis of the precautionary principle– in itself an ethical concept underpinned by utilitarian consequentialism. For many reasons the precautionary principle is not an effective regulatory instrument yet precaution can be traced as a consistent thread through EU legislation which applies to NT – REACH, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, occupational safety, waste and biocides. Save for novel foods, cosmetics and biocides, EU regulation is not NT specific and is based on risk assessment - theoretically straightforward but difficult in reality because of the extent of uncertainty surrounding risk of harm. In fact there is a view that for many reasons it is too soon to regulate NT effectively. Furthermore, the technology has already outpaced the legislation and it is possible that the regulation can be avoided or at least circumvented so as to be rendered inapplicable and outside the scope. All of this presents an opportunity to develop alternative approaches to oversight largely based on voluntary governance frameworks which are not dependant on scientific certainty and which shift the focus from risk assessment and analysis to risk minimisation and mitigation. In the NT context there is scope for framing “soft law” governance mechanisms based on deliberative democracy and distributive and procedural justice which can be regarded as an exercise in ethical due diligence. An alternative approach focuses on the voluntary assumption of responsibility, on participation, deliberation, reflexivity and the future. The approach posited is grounded on jurisprudential theories of distributive and procedural justice incorporating John Rawls’ theory of overlapping consensus and model of wide reflective equilibrium with the ultimate goal of the alignment of NT governance with the thinking of the “Law of People”. It is anticipatory, flexible, adaptable and evolutionary. Because the acceptance of risk is a societal consideration the approach is multi- disciplinary forward looking and future care oriented which encompasses a broad stakeholder base.
        Speaker: Karena Hester (University of Limerick)
        Slides
    • 7:30 PM 9:30 PM
      Social Dinner 2h Laguna Restaurant

      Laguna Restaurant

    • 8:30 AM 9:00 AM
      Welcome and Registrations Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 9:00 AM 9:40 AM
      Plenary Lecture 3: Regulatory and Policy Initiatives in the US and EU Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Speaker: Lynn L. Bergeson

      • 9:00 AM
        Regulatory and Policy Initiatives in the US and EU 40m Plenary

        Plenary

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Speaker: Lynn L. Bergeson (Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.)
        Slides
    • 9:40 AM 10:40 AM
      Discussion Panel 3: Testing strategies to evaluate nanomaterials safety Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Chair: Vicki Stone

    • 10:40 AM 11:00 AM
      Coffee break 20m Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      3A Safer by design products, production and processes Breakout 1

      Breakout 1

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 11:00 AM
        Sustainable Nanocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Splitting  Water: Metal­Free, Heteroatom­Doped Carbons and Noble Metal­ Free Oxides 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The lack of  sustainable and efficient  catalysts for many renewable energy  applications (e.g., fuel cells and water splitting) and the unabated negative environmental impacts of fossil  fuels remain among  the most pressing issues facing  the world  today. In  this talk I will  discuss  my  research  group’s  recent   effort s  on the  synthesis of heteroatom­doped  metal­free or noble metal­free nanoporous and mesoporous carbon,  metal oxide and  carbon/metal oxide hybrid materials  that exhibit  high catalytic and electrocatalytic activity for reactions such as oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, and hydrazine oxidation—reactions that are relevant to fuel cells, water splitting, renewable energy, and so on. The  catalytic activity of some of  these materials is comparable or better  than  platinum­based catalyst s, conventional catalysts that are widely used for such reactions but are deemed unsustainable due to their scarcity and high cost. Our findings, which  defy  the conventional  paradigms, are  also import ant   for  fundamental studies in the current state­of ­the­art  of catalysis  that rely only on met allic syst ems. In  the last  part of my  talk, I will describe novel design and “nanost ruct uring” approaches  for a series of core-shell nanostructured materials  with efficient catalytic or electrocatalytic  activities for water splitting, hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions.
        Speaker: Tewodros Asefa (Rutgers University at New Brunswick)
        Slides
      • 11:30 AM
        Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Firms in Europe: A Typology 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Despite the widespread use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, little is known about the characteristics of the firms that comprise the industry. For instance, despite many studies opening with forecasts of a rapidly evolving industry with projected revenues of billions of euro, the industry’s boundaries are not clearly delineated. By virtue of dealing with materials or technologies on a nanoscale, a wide range of firms, from those that produce nanoscale thin film coatings for semiconductors to those that sequence DNA, are seen, by some academics at least, to be part of the same industry. Furthermore, much of the previous work that has attempted to characterize such firms has depended on small-sample surveys with their associated self-reporting and non-response biases. This is problematic because, in order for regulators to regulate, insurers to underwrite risk, and financiers to provide capital, they must first have a deep knowledge of the industry in which they are involved. To address this shortcoming, this study describes the industry’s typology in Europe. Using on-line databases and resources, we identify 517 European firms involved with either nanomaterials or nanotechnologies. Using manual searches of these firms’ websites and public disclosures, we characterize each firm into one of six categories: Analysis, Bioanalysis, Drug Delivery, Electronics, Energy, and Materials. However, the operations of seemingly similar firms in each category can vary widely. For instance, while some of the ‘Energy’ firms manufacture photovoltaic cells, others manufacture ultracapacitors and lithium ion batteries. Moreover, such firms could ostensibly be categorized under the ‘Electronics’ heading. This has broader implications because it highlights the difficulties that regulators, insurers and capital providers have in evaluating the idiosyncratic risk that each nanomaterials or nanotechnology firm poses. We also find that the majority of these firms are privately owned, venture capital funded, and have less than 50 employees. This too has implications, particularly for regulators, as their actions could potentially have an adverse impact on what is evidently still a nascent, emerging industry.
        Speaker: Martin Mullins (University of Limerick)
        Slides
      • 12:00 PM
        SANOWORK: towards a "Safety by Design" management of nanomaterials 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The growing importance of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and their applications justifies the European successful promotion and growth of a nano-safety research. It is widely accepted that material designers, engineers, health and safety professionals, business leaders, should converge efforts to develop “Safety by design” (SbD) tools and implementing safer manufacturing processes. The approach followed by the EU collaborative project, SANOWORK, is in this direction. The main goal of Sanowork project has been to promote safe occupational exposure scenarios by developing preventive risk management measures and evaluating them in terms of RISK and expected PERFORMANCES. The results has provided inputs for a COST-BENEFIT analysis and the development of a RISK INSURANCE MODEL exploitable by industrial sectors involved. Five risk remediation strategies based on a SbD approach have been developed and integrated within the processing lines. The Sanowork approach has been applied to a “representative” pool of nanomaterials: ZrO2, TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles; CNTs; polyamide and TiO2 nanofibers. The proposed strategies aimed to mitigate occupational risk by decreasing adverse health hazard and/or emission potential of nanomaterials, setting back processes of transport to the point of entry. The cooperation with industrial key partners has guaranteed an accurate exposure assessment in the workplace.
        Speaker: Simona Ortelli (ISTEC-CNR, Italy)
      • 12:30 PM
        Assessing the potential risks of silver nanoparticles in antimicrobial applications, using miniaturized flow field-flow fractionation and multi-angle light scattering 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Colloidal silver nanoparticles are known for their antimicrobial applications in everyday life items, and their use in commercial products is increasing; to investigate how and if nanoparticles may present harm for the environment and organisms, a characterization of their behavior in environmental/physiological media is required besides size, shape, activity and stability assessment. Hyphenation of multiangle light scattering (MALS) detection with size-based separation methods presents a multidimensional platform that can enhance accuracy for analysis of complex NPs samples, and Hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) is particularly suited for this task. In HF5, separation occurs between species with different hydrodynamic radius. MALS detection, on the other hand, allows for the calculation of particlesâ•˙ gyration radius, which depends on particle compactness. Particlesâ•˙ shape is determined correlating these values. We developed HF5-UV-MALS methods able to study dispersed AgNPs in aqueous media to isolate silver nanoparticles for size distribution analysis, identify aggregation phenomena, separate unbound constituents from the functional NPs, and correlate NPs size with their spectroscopic properties. We have tested new methods for analysis of metal release through fiber filtration to improve full characterization of metal-based nanoparticles, in order to study both their functional effectiveness and potential hazards.
        Speaker: Valentina Marassi (University of Bologna)
        Slides
    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      3B Ecotoxicology, effects on ecosystem services & ecological risks Breakout 2

      Breakout 2

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 11:00 AM
        Ecotoxicological effects of multi walled carbon nanotubes 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Other authors: C. Piller, E. Gunter-Hoch, F. Ben-Ami, N. Vlachou, D. Perivoliotis, A.F. Trompeta, A. Skarmoutsou, Y. Benayahu, C.A. Charitidis Now-a-days the need for the manufacturing of engineered nanomaterials increases due to their performance, efficiency and decrease of total weigh in the applications they are used. However, not always large scale manufacturers or even small scale pilot lines established in regional laboratories follow regulations/limitations for the disposal of engineered nanomaterials waste. Consequently, there is a great possibility of polluting water that will eventually result in the effect on ecosystems micro and macro-organisms. In this study we will present the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), one of the most widely studied engineered- nanomaterial on the water fleas, unicellular algae some macrofoulers. CNTs were synthesized via a thermal chemical deposition process, characterized and functionalized with different end groups to render them less toxic. CNTs length was measured ~5 Îπm and diameter ranged between 60-100 nm. Functionalization with different surfactants was conducted in order to render CNTs dispersal in polar and non-polar solvents and their effect on living organisms was assessed so as to estimate the potential effect in ecotoxicity and environment. Acknowledgements: This research is supported by the EU FP7 Project ╲Low-toxic cost-efficient environment-friendly antifouling materials╡ (OCEAN) under Grant Agreement no. 612717.
        Speaker: Yehuda Benayahu (Tel Aviv University)
        Slides
      • 11:24 AM
        The GUIDEnano strategy for nanomaterial environmental hazard assessment along the life cycle 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: - David Hernández-Moreno (hernandez.david@inia.es). Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Carretera de la Coruña Km 7.5, Madrid, Spain. - Juan José Izquierdo (igalvez@inia.es). Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Carretera de la Coruña Km 7.5, Madrid, Spain. - Dave Spurgeon (dasp@ceh.ac.uk). NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Molecular Ecotoxicology, Acremann Section, Maclean Building, Benson Lane Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8BB United Kindgom - Magriet Park (margriet.park@rivm.nl). National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Health Protection PO box 1 3720BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands - Natalia Ferraz (natalia.ferraz@angstrom.uu.se). Uppsala University, Division of Nanotechnology and Functional Materials. Box 534. 75121 Uppsala, Sweden. - Julia Catalán (Julia.Catalan@ttl.fi). Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Topeliuksenkatu 41 b FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland - Socorro Vázquez-Campos (svazquez@leitat.org). LEITAT Technological Center. Center, Innovació 2, 08225 Terrassa, Spain - Claus Svendsen (csv@leitat.org). NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Molecular Ecotoxicology, Acremann Section, Maclean Building, Benson Lane Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8BB United Kindgom Abstract: GUIDEnano aims at developing an interactive web-based Guidance Tool to support the risk assessment and risk management of a nano-enabled product. A first step will be to assess the possibility to use existing hazard assessments for similar materials, by assessing similarity between the exposure-relevant and the already tested nanomaterials (NMs). This will be done by using a set of predefined read-across criteria that will lead to a similarity score for each property evaluated. As a second step, in cases where the exposure-relevant material is not sufficiently similar to any of the previously assessed materials, the Tool would base the hazard assessment on individual studies available for the NM of interest. Each individual study would be evaluated for two aspects: its reliability and the similarity of the tested NM to the exposure relevant NM. Within the reliability concept, we include the combination of the Klimisch score and a specific nano score. A minimum score for these two aspects will be needed to use such test data for the derivation of the final predicted non effect concentration (PNEC) value and, in such cases, the score will also inform on the uncertainty around it. A third and final step, the use of general categories of NMs and associated default hazard values is considered.
        Speaker: Maria Diez-Ortiz (LEITAT, Spain)
      • 11:48 AM
        Phytotoxicity of carbon nanotubes in soybean is associated with disturbances of zinc homeostasis 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The effect of short-term seed treatments with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs, 0 – 500 µg seed-1 during 36 h) on germination and seedling development of soybean was studied. CNTs decreased speed of the water uptake by soybean seeds and therefore reduced imbibition damages, which finally improved germination rate. However, at 8 days after sowing and even after 23 days of growth on a calcareous soil, plants developed from seeds treated with CNTs, showed stunted growth and poor fine root development associated with zinc (Zn) deficiency. The growth of affected plants was recovered by foliar applications of 0.5 mM ZnSO4 or by cultivation in nutrient solution. Since Zn is an important co-factor for antioxidant enzymes, stunted plant growth in response to Zn limitation has been related to excessive oxidative degradation of auxin as growth hormone. We hypothesize that CNT seed treatments may affect re-mobilisation of Zn seed reserves, leading to the development of Zn-deficient seedlings with stunted root growth and lacking the ability to acquire sparingly soluble Zn forms in soils but with restoration of normal growth by external application of soluble Zn.
        Speaker: Olga Zaytseva (University of Hohenheim)
        Slides
      • 12:12 PM
        Accumulation of engineered nanoparticles in plant foods: Nutritional bioaccessibility and dietary exposure risks 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The increase in the production of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) has prompted concerns about their environmental release into and their impact on human health. Consumption of plants that have come in contact with nanomaterials is the most likely route by which humans could be exposed. Collaborative study of ENM accumulation in plants is underway with research efforts focused on an array of belowground and leafy vegetables. One aspect of this research is focusing on the transport of various ENM into plant tissues. The accumulation data from these experiments is also being used to develop dietary intake models to relate that accumulation to the potential impact resulting from consumption of those plant tissues. Models based on a series of experiments with the accumulation of CuO, ZnO, or CeO2 in carrot have been completed and include comparative data from plant exposed to the corresponding ions of each ENM. Additional modeling is underway for lettuce and sweet potato. A physiologically-based extraction test is being applied to assess the release during the gastric phase of simulated digestion. The goal of these efforts is to provide a comprehensive picture of the food safety risk posed by these ENMs in these plant foods.
        Speaker: Jason White (Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station)
        Slides
      • 12:32 PM
        Mechanisms of response to NMs in soil invertebrates – integrating from gene expression to organism effect and AOPs 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Abstract: High-throughput gene expression tools can help understanding the mechanisms of toxic-mediated responses. Further, one of the main aims is to establish the link between alterations in macromolecules (genes, proteins) and their biological implications at higher levels (reproduction). Such data can be integrated via Adverse Outcome Pathways(AOPs) approach, and provide input towards a more knowledge based risk assessment. In the present study we investigated the mechanisms of toxicity for Cu (copper) and Ag (silver) materials using the high-throughput tool for the soil worm Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta), a 4x44K custom Agilent microarray. Testing was done based on reproduction effect concentrations (EC20, EC50) using 3 and 7 days of exposure. The materials included CuNP, Cu nanowires, Cu aged (80 years contaminated field) and Cu salt plus AgNP (non coated and PVP coated), AgNM300k (dispersed) and Ag salt. Results indicated specific mechanisms of response for the different materials tested. Cu-salt exposure affected mechanisms related with calcium homeostasis and activated the chemosensory system of the enchytraieds. Energetic metabolism was affected differently depending on the copper forms. For Ag, results showed that one of the materials caused a more differentiated transcriptomic profile than the others. Commonly and across all Ag forms were the effects on cell cycle control associated with impairment of DNA repair mechanism. The study of gene expression pointed at differences in gene responses that would had been absent via the standard methods alone. The AOPs approach is a promising means to overview effects in an integrated flow.
        Speaker: Monica J. B. Amorim (Univeristy of Aveiro)
        Slides
    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      3C Educational & curriculum in nanotechnology Breakout 3

      Breakout 3

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 11:00 AM
        Educational & curriculum in nanotechnology 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Sustainability is acknowledged to consist of three segments; economic, environmental and societal. The environmental aspect encompasses in many cases the technology and science of nano materials and the interaction with biological systems and the surrounding environment. The 2 year nanotechnology program at Dakota County Technical College encompasses many aspects of nanotechnology (electronics, materials and biotechnology) and also includes aspect of sustainability in multiple courses. And, rightfully, a substantial portion of nanotechnology based educational content focuses on the technical aspects of nanoscale phenomena. This presentation will address the remaining two segments of sustainability and discuss how economic and societal impacts of nanotechnology are woven into traditional technical content through case studies, experiments, and activities. Case studies presented focus on coating materials for aquatic applications and functionalized nanoparticles for desease treatment and include regulatory and material cost considerations, risk assessments and failure modes effects analysis.
        Speaker: Deb Newberry
        Slides
      • 11:24 AM
        The Virginia Tech Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The Virginia Tech Sustainable Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program (SuN‐IGEP) is a cross-university effort to promote interdisciplinary research in the general area of Sustainable Nanotechnology. This presentation will discuss the successes and challenges of this program, which provides financial support for a number of Ph.D. students with the goal to support development of expertise in sustainable nanotechnology, This presentation will discuss the central educational and research tenets of the SuN‐IGEP effort
        Speaker: Peter Vikesland (Virginia Tech)
        Slides
      • 11:48 AM
        Learning from nature: biomimicry in nanotechnology education 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Over the 3.8 Gyr since life is believed to have appeared on Earth, components of the natural world have evolved to function effectively and persist. Ecosystems are therefore rich sources of information and fundamental models of successful, sustainable strategies from which we can learn. Biomimicry is the study and imitation of nature’s designs and processes to solve human problems and is a core concept for sustainability. Several nano-based innovations have been inspired by nature, such as green synthesis techniques for nanomaterials, water-purifying membranes, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, biomimicry is still an underdeveloped practice in nanotechnology. Teaching researchers and industries how to learn about and apply attributes of ecosystems to design and manufacturing will play an important role in the development of sustainable nanotechnology. Thus, curriculum and training for sustainable nanotechnology should include (1) learning and applying basic concepts of biomimicry; (2) practicing decision making; and (3) improving collaboration skills, particularly with biologists and ecologists. By actively integrating these elements into nanotechnology education, we can reduce the gap that currently exists between the principles of sustainability and the practical realities of developing and producing nanomaterials and nanodevices.
        Speaker: Mehlika Ayla Kiser (Catalan Institute for Water Research)
        Slides
      • 12:12 PM
        Nanotechnology education for secondary schools and university students: The employers perspective 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The on-going FP7 project NanoEIS (www.nanoeis.eu) investigates European nanotechnology education practices and compares education contents to job skills that are in demand in the nanotechnology industry. Our studies show that industry expects to recruit experts in areas that are very poorly covered by university curricula, like health & safety, regulation & standardization, and environmental aspects. Nanotechnology studies focus strongly on classical disciplines and research-driven fields, which implies that students may not be really qualified in the skills that are in demand in the job market. Direct involvement of industry in university education is identified as the single most important factor that strongly facilitates a smooth transition from academia to industry. For secondary school education, the integration of nanotechnology has not yet developed an accepted standard. Islands of best practice have been identified which are implemented in very different ways, but the majority of secondary school students in all European countries is never in touch with nanotechnology at school. Better connections between schools, universities and industries would help to narrow the gap between education contents and job market needs, and could also help in reaching out to society at large.
        Speaker: Albert Duschl (University of Salzburg)
        Slides
      • 12:36 PM
        Empowering citizens in international governance of nanotechnologies 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The international dialogue on responsible governance of nanotechnologies engages a wide range of actors with conflicting as well as common interests (c.f. Malsch, 2011). It is also characterised by a lack of evidence based data on uncertain risks of in particular engineered nanomaterials (c.f. IRGC, 2006). The SUN project aims to develop a SUNDS software decision support tool in order to strengthen collective decision making on sustainable nanomaterials. The design of the tool is based on three rounds of stakeholder engagement with industry, regulators and insurance company representatives. The present paper aims at deepening understanding of the collective decision making context at international level by reviewing recent discussions in different fields including sociological and political studies of international relations (e.g. Risse, 2002, Haas, 1992) as well as political philosophy and ethics (Habermas, 2011, Rawls, 1999, Kant, 1795). This analysis of current trends in international law making is taken as starting point for exploring the role a software decision support tool could play in multi-stakeholder global governance of nanotechnologies. These theoretical ideas are then compared with the current design of the SUNDS tool highlighting discussion points for further consideration.
        Speaker: Ineke Malsh (Malsch TechnoValuation)
        Slides
    • 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
      Lunch Break 1h Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

    • 2:00 PM 2:40 PM
      Plenary Lecture 4: The quest for generating robust regulatory relevant data Plenary (The quest for generating robust regulatory relevant data)

      Plenary

      The quest for generating robust regulatory relevant data

      • 2:00 PM
        The quest for generating robust regulatory relevant data 40m Plenary (NH Laguna Palace Hotel)

        Plenary

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Speaker: Tom van Teunenbroek (Tom van Teunenbroek, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, NL)
        Slides
    • 2:40 PM 4:40 PM
      4A Recycling & Waste Management Breakout 1

      Breakout 1

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 2:40 PM
        Waste management of ENM-containing solid waste in Europe 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Little research has been done to determine emissions of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) from currently available nano-enabled consumer products. While ENM release is expected to occur throughout the life cycle of the products, this study focuses on the product end-of-life (EOL) phase. We used the Danish nanoproduct inventory (www.nanodb.dk) to get a general understanding of the fate of ENM during waste management in the European context. This was done by: 1. assigning individual products to an appropriate waste material fraction, 2. identifying the ENM in each fraction, 3. comparing identified waste fractions with waste treatment statistics for Europe, and 4. illustrating the general distribution of ENM into incineration, recycling and landfilling. Our results indicate that ╲plastic from used product containers╡ is the most abundant and diverse waste fraction, comprising a variety of both nanoproducts and materials. While differences are seen between individual EU countries/regions according to the local waste management system, results show that all waste treatment options are significantly involved in nanowaste handling, suggesting that research activities should cover different areas. The results of this study may be used for the environmental and human health risk assessment of nanowaste, and to assist future regulatory and management decisions.
        Speaker: Laura Heggelund (Technical University of Denmark)
        Slides
      • 3:10 PM
        Flows of engineered nanomaterials through the recycling process in Switzerland 20m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        As the number of nanoapplications increase, more and more waste with nanomaterials will be generated. A portion of this waste will enter the recycling system. The fate of these materials during and after the waste management and recycling operations is poorly understood. The aim of this work is to model the flows of nano-TiO2, nano-ZnO, nano-Ag and CNT in the recycling system in Switzerland. To incorporate the uncertainties inherent to the limited information available, we applied a probabilistic material flow analysis approach. The results show that the recycling processes does not result in significant further propagation of nanomaterials into new products. Instead, the largest proportion will flow as waste that can subsequently be properly handled in incineration plants or landfills. Smaller fractions of ENMs will be eliminated or end up in materials that are sent abroad to undergo further recovery processes. Only a reduced amount of ENMs will flow back to the productive process of the economy in a limited number of sectors. Overall, the results suggest that risk assessment during recycling should focus on occupational exposure, release of ENMs in landfills and incineration plants, and toxicity assessment in a small number of recycled inputs.
        Speaker: Alejandro Caballero Guzman (EMPA)
        Slides
      • 3:30 PM
        Nanoproducts: What is Actually Available to European Consumers? 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        It remains unclear what is available in Europe when it comes to consumer products containing nanomaterials (NM), which hampers quantitative exposure assessment. To provide an overview of available nanoproducts, we have established The Nanodatabase (www.nanodb.dk), an online inventory of products claimed by manufacturers, importers, retailers, and web-shops to contain nanomaterials. The database currently entails almost 1400 products, 200 of which in the categories of cleaning and personal care. While including basic information about the product (e.g., name, NM used, location of NM in the product), a unique feature of the database is that it provides qualitative exposure/hazard evaluation of individual products based on the NanoRiskCat evaluation framework. Furthermore, the analysis section of the Nanodatabase website allows the user to do their own data sorting (product types, NMs used, number of products, etc.). While silver and titanium dioxide are the most used NMs, we could not identify the NM in more than 60% of all products. The presentation will furthermore include data on potential route of exposure to humans and the environment, results of the NanoRiskCat evaluation, distribution of the products according to their end-of-life fate and limitations of the database.
        Speaker: Steffen Foss Hansen (Technical University of Denmark)
        Slides
      • 4:00 PM
        Stochastic fate analysis of engineered nanoparticles during release processes e.g. in an incineration plant 20m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A full-scale experiment in a modern waste incineration plant showed that even inert nanoparticles (nano-CeO2) are successfully removed from the flue gas and transferred to the solid incineration residues. Predicting the fate of nanomaterials in incineration plants with models based on real measurements would reduce the immense efforts (time and resources) for real-scale experiments. A model for the ENP fate in incineration plants, based on the data of the nanoCeO2-experiment is presented. We investigated all possible transfers and sinks of ENP throughout the incineration by linking ENP concentration measurements to the nanomaterial flows and retention times. The model also delivers information on the associated uncertainties and how they propagate through the incineration system. The model can be generalized to other ENP and also to other incineration plants. We show that the output of the measurements was consistent albeit relying on multiple measurement methods, and that a one day sampling period is sufficient to obtain an overview on the fate of nanoparticles in incineration plants. In addition to the dynamic results, a generalized steady state mass flow with transfer factors is provided and can be used for modeling purposes of CeO2 or other nano sized metals with similar physic-chemical properties.
        Speaker: Fadri Gottschalk (ETSS. Switzerland)
        Slides
    • 2:40 PM 4:40 PM
      4B Toxicology and human health risks Breakout 2

      Breakout 2

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 2:40 PM
        NanoSAR: Structure Activity Model for the Toxicity of Nanoparticles 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        There are increasing number of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) that have to be hazard tested before they are allowed to be used in commercial and industrial applications. This requires new methodologies to be explored and implemented to rapidly and effectively screen and evaluate ENM toxicity. Data-driven models of nanostructure-biological activity relationships are becoming increasingly important as the hazard testing lags further behind innovation in nanotechnology. Although the use of non-testing quantitative structure-activity relationship ((Q)SAR) methods for predicting adverse effects of ENMs has gained more and more attention over the past several years, there exist a number of limitations that influence the quality and generalizability of nano-(Q)SAR models. This study reviews (Q)SAR-related nano-aspects, from nanostructure characterization to (Q)SAR modelling tools, in order to improve the understanding of the (Q)SAR modelling of ENM toxicity. It provides a critical assessment of previously published nano-(Q)SAR studies as well as the available nanostructure-nanotoxicity data. Moreover, the study aims to identify the issues that complicate the implementation of (Q)SAR approaches in nanotoxicology, in addition to the main challenges ahead. In conclusion, we believe that this study can provide valuable insights into the current status and future potential of (Q)SAR modelling in nanotoxicology.
        Speaker: Ceyda Oksel (University of Leeds)
        Slides
      • 3:04 PM
        Contribution to nanomaterials safety assessment: the need of integrating in vitro, in vivo and in silico strategies 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Fundamental and application-driven research in nanotechnology is expected to boost nanoscience and innovation towards development of safe-by-design nanomaterials (NM). In this scenario, adding vast societal benefits, a multi-disciplinary approach to responsible innovation must be undertaken. Although the widespread use of NM, it is not clear whether they impact on environment and human health, on the long-term. Potential deleterious effects, e.g., genotoxicity that is intimately associated with carcinogenicity, have to be assessed using complementary in vitro and in vivo assays, nested within the conventional risk assessment paradigm and considering specific physicochemical properties of NM. In this study we present the testing strategy that was recently applied to the genotoxicity characterization of titanium dioxide nanomaterials in human cells and in an integrative in vivo model. The results supported the view that a thorough understanding of the relationship between the physicochemical properties, the behaviour of NM in biological systems and their mechanism of action is of utmost importance to predict their biological activity. In conclusion, the knowledge gap between nanoscience and hazard assessment has to be filled within a multi-disciplinary approach including experimental and computational components in an iterative process, towards an improved strategy for the safety evaluation of nanomaterials.
        Speaker: Maria Joao Silva (National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge)
        Slides
      • 3:28 PM
        Development of a robust method for measuring engineered nanomaterial toxicity and uptake using Caenorhabditis elegans 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Design and development of reliable cell-based nanotoxicology assays are important for evaluation of potentially hazardous engineered nanomaterials. Challenges to producing a reliable assay protocol include working with nanoparticle dispersions and living cell lines, and the potential for nano-related interference effects. We demonstrate the use of a 96-well plate design for a nano-cytotoxicity MTS cell viability assay. A detailed protocol and an inter-laboratory comparison are used to illustrate the variability of the assay with NH2-polystyrene nanoparticles. Data on both the within and between laboratory system controls can be used to evaluate the largest sources of variability in the protocol. This study suggests that a high level of agreement between each of the laboratories can be achieved, but consideration of protocol details such as cell line ID, cell rinsing, media removal, and nanoparticle dispersion is critical to ensure comparability of nanocytotoxicity assays results
        Speaker: Elijiah Petersen (NIST)
        Slides
      • 3:52 PM
        Design and Development of Surface Modification and Synthesis Strategies to Reduce Toxicity of Nanoparticles 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The aim of the study is to develop new modification and synthesis strategies to reduce the toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) used in ink and pigment industry. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs, quantum dots (QDs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were selected NPs due to their high toxicity. Biocompatibility, stability in ink formulation, chemical suitability, cost and applicability are the main requirements for the selection of the materials for surface modifications. Plasma proteins; bovine serum albumin, fibrinogen and apo-transferrin were chosen as surface modifiers for ZnO NPs and glucose was selected as a model carbohydrate for QDs to reduce toxicity. The covalent binding of surface modifiers on ZnO NPs and QDs was verified by spectroscopic and gravimetric techniques to demonstrate the success of surface coverage. A comprehensive evaluation of cellular toxicity of pristine and modified NPs demonstrated the surface modification of NPs decreased the toxicity influentially. A safety by design approach was developed to reduce toxicity of AgNPs through modifying synthesis conditions. The influence of synthesis conditions of AgNPs on size and toxicity was also investigated and the synthesis conditions were found as effective as the size dependent toxicity.
        Speaker: Seda Keleştemur (Yeditepe University)
        Slides
      • 4:16 PM
        Development of an initial Risk Assessment strategy within the GUIDEnano project 24m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        One of the main goals of work package 7 of the GUIDEnano project is to develop a risk assessment strategy for an NM-enabled product during its development and before introduction on the market. This risk assessment strategy is incorporated in the interactive web-based GUIDEnano Tool, which will guide the NM-enabled product developers (mainly industry) into the design and application of the most appropriate risk assessment and mitigation strategy for a specific product. The strategy will be evaluated with hypothetical and real case studies within the project. To develop the initial strategy to assess the risk of NMs, information on existing risk assessment methodologies was used, together with discussions with experts from inside and outside the project. The strategy can be divided in four main elements: 1. Input and information requirements (hazard and exposure assessment) 2. Risk assessment (calculation of a risk ratio and classification into three risk categories) 3. Follow-up actions (reduction of uncertainty, risk mitigation) 4. Output report. Currently, WP7 is working on a sensitivity analysis of the entire risk assessment process, as integrated in the Tool, to identify the key assumptions or uncertainties to be reduced throughout this process.
        Speaker: Susan Wijnhoven (RIVM)
        Slides
    • 2:40 PM 4:40 PM
      4C Environmental Release, Fate and Exposure Breakout 3

      Breakout 3

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 2:40 PM
        Evaluation of titanium dioxide nanoparticle fate and heteroaggregation in natural surface waters 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        As development of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) continues to progress, determination of ENP fate and impact on the natural environment remains challenging, and new strategies utilizing environmentally relevant system compositions and ENP concentrations (i.e., μg/L range) are warranted. Herein, we evaluated the fate of titanium dioxide (TiO2) ENPs in surface waters from a river (Rhône river, France) rich in mineral suspended particulate matter (SPM) and a lake (Cholet, France) containing high levels of natural organic matter (NOM). The TiO2 ENPs were spiked into these waters and the ENP/natural suspended matter heteroaggregation kinetics and sticking efficiencies were determined. To elucidate the physico-chemical factors driving heteroaggregation, studies were also conducted in synthetic waters of comparable composition. Furthermore, pH, ionic strength, elemental composition, and SPM and NOM contents and compositions were assessed to identify the key contributors to ENP fate. The TiO2 nanoparticles demonstrated a significant affinity for the mineral SPM, with rapid heteroaggregation and subsequent sedimentation of the resulting aggregates. However, heteroaggregation was less evident in the NOM-rich lake water. Together, these holistic data will serve in ranking potential ENP fate scenarios and assessing ENP risk within natural aqueous environments. Funded by the French ANR and the Swiss FOPH under ERA-NET SIINN NANOHETER.
        Speaker: Danielle Slomberg (CEREGE)
      • 3:04 PM
        Kinetics of Nanoparticles Release from Nanocomposites Exposed to Environmental Stresses 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Justin M. Gorham, NIST, justin.gorham@nist.gov Lee L. Yu, NIST, lee.yu@nist.gov Tinh Nguyen, NIST, tinh.nguyen@nist.gov Nanocomposites are increasingly used in essentially every segment of the industry from consumer products to aerospace. Regardless the application, both the long-term performance of the composite itself and the fate of the nanomaterials in the matrix during the product’s life cycle play a key role in the commercialization and uses of these nanocomposite products. The main reason for that is nanomaterials that were embedded in the polymer matrices may be released from the nanocomposites during their life cycles. Little data is available about the fate of free or embedded nanoparticles, how they may be released, and the quantity/composition/structure of the released particles throughout the product’s life cycle. The goal of this study is to investigate the process and mechanism of particle release from nanocomposites under accelerated UV exposure. Specimens of a nanosilica composite were exposed to a well-controlled, accelerated UV environment, and the amount of nanosilica particles from the degraded surface were collected using a simulated rain process, and measured using inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy as a function of UV exposure time at different temperatures. This result will be valuable for developing a kinetics model to predict the long term release of nanosilica from polymer nanocomposites when used outdoors.
        Speaker: Li-Piin Sung (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST))
      • 3:28 PM
        Environmental fate of nanopesticides and exposure assessment 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Research into nanotechnology applications for use in agriculture has become increasingly popular over the past decade. Investigations into the environmental fate of nanopesticides remain scarce however, and the current state of knowledge does not appear to be sufficient for a reliable assessment to be made of the benefits and risks associated with nanopesticides. It is not clear for instance, whether current analytical methods, test protocols and exposure modelling approaches can account for novel “nano” properties of some nanopesticides. With the aim to address the knowledge gap, experiments were carried out on a series of polymer-based nanopesticides. The suitability of standard regulatory protocols to determine fate parameters in soils (OECD tests for sorption and degradation) was evaluated in the context of pesticide regulatory assessment in the EU. Discrepancies between free and nanoformulated active ingredient were also analysed based on the results obtained by more realistic experimental set up and from the characterization of the nanocarriers. Comparison with commercial formulations was also considered to distinguish nano-specific-effects from those related to already existing formulations. Overall, results serve as a useful basis to discuss the (in)adequacy of current protocols, and identify priorities for research.
        Speaker: Melanie Kah (University of Vienna)
      • 3:52 PM
        Insights from a spatially and temporally resolved nanoparticle fate model 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        We introduce a spatially and temporally resolved mass balance model for sulfidized Ag NP and ZnO NP loadings to the James River Basin in Virginia.  The model includes oxygen-, sulfide-, and temperature-dependent NP and byproduct (ion) transformations, oxic and anoxic sediment layers, and flow-dependent sediment transport. Although it has been generally ignored in NP fate models, surface runoff of land-applied biosolids accounts for roughly a quarter of NP stream loads in our model. Due to daily flow dynamics, NPs were also more mobile than anticipated in the stream, with only ~5-10% of the cumulative stream load remaining in the basin at the end of the simulation. Therefore, metals from NPs will accumulate downstream in estuarine or marine ecosystems.  Spatially variable discharges and stream flows, control predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in this model.  Previous steady state models or those applying time-constant parameters and processes suggest peak PECs occur during low flows.  We also observe peaks during high flows due to surface runoff.  Unlike sulfidized Ag NPs, ZnO NPs rapidly dissolve.   PECs never exceed USEPA water or sediment guidelines for Ag and Zn, suggesting low risk in this system at estimated current loading levels.
        Speaker: Gregory Lowry (Carnegie Mellon University)
        Slides
      • 4:16 PM
        Thermal decomposition of nano-enabled products at their end of life and EHS implications 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Proliferation of Nano-enabled-Products (NEPs) has inevitably raised the urgent question of nano-release during their synthesis, integration, processing, assembly, usage and eventually recycling or disposal at the end of their life cycle (LC). Apparently, there is a need to study and understand in a systematic manner the release mechanisms and possible exposure routes across the LC of NEPs in particular during the thermal decomposition of nanowaste. Here, we focus on the development of a novel Integrated Exposure Generation System which enables the assessment of possible environmental health and safety implications during the thermal decomposition scenario of nanocomposite materials. A specific target is the employment of the developed exposure platform for a variety of polymer nanocomposites that are currently in use in many industries and products such as automotive (engineering plastics for multiple components), electrical (plastics for switches, plugs), construction (insulation foams), packaging (extruded polymers, polystyrene), textile (polyamides, monofilaments). Finally, a detailed physicochemical, morphological, and toxicological characterization of by-products from the thermal decomposition of nanowaste will be performed utilizing the developed exposure system. The target is to link biological responses and properties of released aerosol and residual ash to specific NEP properties and thermal decomposition parameters. Through such an understanding, safer-by-design polymer NEPs can be manufactured that retain the superior properties without exhibiting adverse effects to the environment and human health.
        Speaker: Phil Demokritou (Harvard University)
        Slides
    • 4:40 PM 5:00 PM
      Coffee break 20m Laguna Gallery 6

      Laguna Gallery 6

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 5:00 PM 6:30 PM
      Reception and posters Laguna Gallery

      Laguna Gallery

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      poster
    • 8:30 AM 9:15 AM
      Welcome and Registrationa Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 9:15 AM 9:40 AM
      Plenary Lecture 5 - Surface affinity: a functional assay for quantifying nanoparticle behavior in complex systems

      Speaker: Mark Wiesner

      • 9:15 AM
        Surface affinity: Applications of a functional assay for quantifying nanoparticle transport, aggregation, transformation and bioüptake in complex systems 25m Plenary

        Plenary

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Environmental transformations and exposure are key elements in determining the environmental and health effects of nanomaterials. Tools for predicting the environmental behaviour include functional assays that can be used to evaluate nanomaterial properties in complex or reference systems. Simulations show that nanoparticles introduced in a complex, albeit greatly simplified environment exhibit a wide range of behaviors depending on their affinities for each other and their concentrations. The complexity of these interactions appears to be governed by the relative affinity of nanoparticles for each other (autoaggregation) and with background particles (heteroaggregation) and other native surfaces. A functional assay for determining the affinity of nanoparticles for complex mixtures of native particles will be presented. This talk addresses the use of a functional assay for surface affinity, the methods for quantifying surface affinity, and systems where surface affinity is likely to be important in prediciting nanoparticle exposure and effects.
        Speaker: Mark Wiesner (Duke University)
        Slides
    • 9:40 AM 10:40 AM
      Discussion Panel 4: Role of Green Nanotechnology in Sustainable Nanotechnology Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Chair: Terry Wilkins

    • 10:40 AM 11:00 AM
      Coffee break 20m Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      5A Safer by design products, production and processes Breakout 1

      Breakout 1

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 11:00 AM
        Preparing Nanostructured Membranes fron Benign and Naturally-occurring Reagents 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The integration of biological building-blocks with synthetic nanomaterials may permit unprecedented ability to detect, disinfect and completely remove pathogens in water. We hereby described the synthesis of biodegradable, interpenetrating polymeric networks of poly(amic) acid (PAA), glutaraldehde-derivatized PAA(PAA-GA) andchitosan-modified poly(amic)acid (PAA-CS) usingp hase-inversion procedures.The characterization data from NMR,FT-IR, SEM and cyclic voltammetry confirmed the successful formation of electroactive, bifunctional, glutaraldehyde-linked PAA membranes. Toxicological, electrochemical and mechanical characterization data showed the successful formation of non-toxic,biodegradable, porous,free-standing and mechanically strong membranes.PAA-GA showed the highest modulus of 5 68.1Mpa followedby PAA-CS-GA (495.0Mpa).The optimized membranes we retested against three of the most common drinking watercontaminants, namely Escherichiacoli,Citrobacter freundii and Staphylococcusepidermidis with 100% removalachievedusingdeadend filtration and tangential flow filtration.
        Speaker: Idris Yazgan (SUNY-Binghamton)
        Slides
      • 11:30 AM
        NANoREG's Safe-by-Design Concept 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Adriënne Sips, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment (RIVM), The NetherlandsAdriënne Sips, National Institute for Public Health & the Environment (RIVM), The Netherlands - Adrienne.Sips@rivm.nl Abstract: The NANoREG Safe-by-Design concept is as nano-related add-on, focusing on the safety part, for existing industrial innovations processes such as the Stage Gate Model encompassing different activities and approaches. The NANoREG Safe-by-Desing concept is not a stand-alone process. The modular character allows a seamlessly integration into the various stages of the innovation process of enterprises developing manufactured nanomaterials (MNM), nano enabled products and related processes. The NANoREG Safe-by-design concept allows the timely identification of uncertainties of and potential for risks as well as actively adapt a innovation or the development in order to reduce or eliminate these uncertainties and if possible the respective risks at the earliest possible stage of the innovation process. The benefits of NANoREG's Safe-by-Design concept are diverse, and composed of: a) Reduction of uncertainties about human and environmental health safety; b) Early and easier risk identification; c) Projects with unacceptable risks can be timely recycled or terminated; d) Risk reduction; e) Less “surprises” (i.e. unforeseen events) during the development process and market introduction.
        Speaker: Christian Micheletti (Venetonanotech)
        Slides
      • 12:00 PM
        Research in Sustainable Synthesis of Nanomaterials: An overview 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The basis of nanotechnology is the manufacture, characterization and use of new nanomaterials with properties that replace, improve, or create useful products.  However, in order to be sustainable, these new materials must be made in sustainable ways—without generating the old pollutants, without using more energy, and without causing environmental impacts at any of their life stages. Research into the sustainable synthesis of nanomaterials is a beginning step into making the whole enterprise sustainable.  Less polluting meansof synthesis such as using non-toxic solvents (e.g., supercritical CO2, water), self-assembly, microwave technologies, photochemical syntheses, renewable starting materials,  molten salts/ionic liquids, etc. are several ways in which nanomaterials can be made in a more sustainable manner.  This talk will track and discuss research in sustainable synthesis of nanomaterials and barriers to its use.
        Speaker: Barbara Karn (SNO/ George Washington University)
        Slides
      • 12:30 PM
        Safer by molecular design applied to industrial case studies 30m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Speaker: Anna Luisa Costa (ISTEC - CNR)
    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      5B Tracking NM in complex matrices Breakout 2

      Breakout 2

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 11:00 AM
        Detection of engineered cerium oxide nanoparticles in soil 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The detection of engineered CeO2-NPs in complex natural media is very challenging due to the low expected CeO2-NP concentrations and the comparatively high background of Ce-containing minerals of similar size range. We here present a new analytical method, based on single particle (sp) ICP-MS analysis for identification and quantification of engineered cerium oxide nanparticles (CeO2-NPs). We expect pulse signals of natural Ce-containing particles to be low and to not represent the true size of the particles detected by the sp-ICP-MS. In contrast, engineered CeO2-NPs will appear as a spike which is significantly higher than the background signal and can be used to determine the mass and number concentration as well as the particle size of the CeO2-NPs. Our hypothesis was tested with a set of experiments using CeO2-NP-spiked natural colloid suspensions as well as colloidal extracts of a natural soil spiked with CeO2-NPs. With our current single-isotope method in sp-ICP-MS we are able to detect the addition of the two-fold Ce-concentration compared to the background concentration in all types of samples. Multiple isotope techniques are currently investigated to extend our method by enabling the use of elemental ratios on single particle level and improving the detection limits considerably.
        Speaker: Frank von der Kammer (University of Vienna)
        Slides
      • 11:20 AM
        Plasmonic imaging of single nanoparticles: project NANODETECTOR 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A new technology developed within FP7 project “NANODETECTOR” provides a real-time detection of interaction of single nanoparticles with plasmonic surface. A number of the nanoparticle – surface binding events per time unit characterizes volume concentration of nanoparticles. A large value of the resonant surface allows us to detect many hundreds interactions in each frame, this leads to a very high dynamic range of nanoparticles counting and correspondingly to a high dynamic range in the concentration scale. The technology can be applied in liquid or in gaseous phases. Depending on the type of nanoparticles and experimental conditions, the detection limit for aqueous samples can be from 10 till 1000 nanoparticles per microliter. Characteristic SPR images of nanoparticles allows us to study heterogeneity of nanoparticles and can be probably used as a finger prints for identification of different types of nanomaterials. Chemical modification of the plasmonic surface as well as changes of pH or ionic strength influence on the interaction of nanoparticles with surface and can be used as additional parameters to evaluate this interaction and to distinguish between different types of nanoparticles.
        Speaker: Vladimir Mirsky (Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg)
      • 11:40 AM
        Sensors and Emerging Technologies for Tracking Nanomaterials in Complex matrices 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanotechnology is creating new discoveries in areas such as medicine, automotive, energy, agriculture, remediation, consumer products and the entertainment industry. Central to the core of sustainable nanotechnology is the need to develop characterization parameters, metrological tools and protocols that can provide information on the interactions of engineered nanomaterials with complex matrices. In this presentation, I will discuss conventional and emerging techniques that are available for characterizing engineered nanoparticles in complex matrices. I will also review the need to develop new instruments and/or further refinement of existing tools. Examples include microscopy (TEM, SEM, HRTEM, DLS, SNOM), chromatography (HDC, FFF), mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS, SEC-ICP/MS, MALDI, FFF-ICP-MS), sp-ICP-MS and electrochemical techniques. Case studies will be presented from the authors’ laboratories for the design of a portable nanoparticle analyzer based on tangential flow filtration and electrochemical detection (EC-TFF). The development of personal monitors for nanoparticles that are equipped with poly (amic) acid membrane filter electrodes (PMFE) arrays to track, capture, isolate, and detect engineered nanoparticles will be discussed. Finally, I will present current research in our laboratory focusing on novel sensors for nanostructured silver, Fe2O3, fullerenes, TiO2 and ceria.
        Speaker: Omowunmi Sadik (SUNY-Binghamton)
        Slides
      • 12:00 PM
        Tracing and Quantitative Measurements of Inorganic Nanoparticles Amounts in Biological Tissues by Nuclear-Physical Methods 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A.A. Antsiferova 1,2, Yu.P. Buzulukov 1,2, V.A. Demin 1,2, V.F. Demin 1,2, P.K. Kashkarov 1,2,3 1 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technologies, Moscow Region, 141700 Russia 2 National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, 123182 Russia 3 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia The problem of nanosafety appeared about 10 years ago and is due to wide use of nanoparticles (NPs) in different areas of industry. It includes a row of important questions such as determination of NP biokinetics in organism, its toxicity and so on. In order to answer these questions NPs content must be analyzed in complex biological media. One of the best way for this purpose is an application of nuclear-physical methods which demonstrate ultimately high integrity, precision and ability to measure quantitative amounts of NPs of bioessential elements in biological tissues. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and Radioactive Labeling technique were developed for study of biokinetics of some widely used NPs such as silver, gold and titanium dioxide NPs. Each kind of NPs requires its unique approach in this way. For example, silver and gold provide isotopes with quite satisfactory characteristics in the process of neutron activation but titanium dioxide doesn’t. The approach of detecting of titanium dioxide NPs was found in radioactive labeling of these NPs by fast protons. With the application of NAA some important results were obtained. E.g., gold NPs were mostly accumulated in rat kidneys, while silver NPs were found in large amount in liver and brain. It was demonstrated that silver NPs easily penetrate through blood-brain barrier. Moreover, rather low level of excretion of silver NPs from brain was shown that can be of great practical value. The work was financially supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (grant № RFMEFI57514X0072).
        Speaker: Anna A. Antsiferova (National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, 123182 Russia, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technologies, Moscow, Russia)
        Slides
      • 12:20 PM
        The meaning of Characterization, and Biological Identity 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Speaker: Kenneth Dawson (Centre for BioNano Interactions, University College Dublin)
        Slides
      • 12:40 PM
        European standardization project on detection and identification of nano-objects in complex matrices 20m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        CEN/TC 352 “Nanotechnologies” /WG 3  “Health, safety and environmental aspects” has launched a preliminary work item CEN/TS (00352012) Nanotechnologies – Guidance on detection and identification of nano-objects in complex matrices in 2014. It is the scope of this Technical Specification to provide guidelines for detection and identification of specific nano-objects in complex matrices, like liquid environmental compartments and waste water. This Technical Specification assumes a prior knowledge of the nature of the nano-objects like their chemical composition. The selected detection and identification methods are based on combination of size classification and chemical composition analysis. Corresponding requirements for sampling and sample preparation will be given. Identification can also be supported e.g. by additional morphology characterization. The document will provide links to measurement method standards if available. This Technical Specification covers a set of appropriate methods like  Field-Flow-Fractionation, Electron Microscopy, Single-Particle-ICP-MS and alternative characterization methods. Beginning with examples for detection and identification tasks in complex matrices and overview of measurement techniques will be given, followed by a guidance for the selection of a method for a certain task. Measuring principle, performance, sample preparation and interpretation of results shall be covered.
        Speaker: Michael Stintz (TU Dresden, Institute of Chemical Engineering)
        Slides
    • 11:00 AM 1:00 PM
      5C Life cycle thinking & LCA
      • 11:00 AM
        Sustainable Nanoproducts through Life Cycle Thinking and Life-Cycle Assessment 30m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Nanotechnology is frequently described as an enabling technology and fundamental innovation, i.e. it is expected to lead to numerous innovative developments in the most diverse fields of technology and areas of application in society and the marketplace with sustainable and environmental benefits [1, 2, 3]. As a result and to enable sustainable nanoproducts in a life cycle perspective, the following questions arise: What is the environmental impact of the production of nanomaterials? What is the influence of these nanomaterials on the environmental impact of new (prospective) applications? Which kind of nanoapplications we need in future to realize high environmental (sustainable) benefits? This contribution tries the answer of the questions in three steps: i) By giving an overview of existing studies of published life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of the manufacture of nanoparticles and nanocomponents [4] ii) It analyzes the results of existing and expected nanotechnology-based applications also giving a current overview for the quantification of environmental relief potentials of this developing technology lines [5], and discuss the iii) characteristics of nanoapplications with high environmental (sustainable) benefits. The focus is placed on the potential environmental (sustainable) relief provided by nanotechnology-based applications. Risk aspects, particularly in dealing with nanomaterials are brought up for discussion however it is not the focus of this contribution [6]. [1] Steinfeldt, M 2012. Environmental impact and energy demand of nanotechnology. In: Lambauer, J, Fahl, U, Voß, A (Ed.). Nanotechnology and Energy - Science, promises and its limits, Pan Stanford Publishing. p. 247-264. [2] Steinfeldt, M. et al. 2010. Entlastungseffekte für die Umwelt durch nanotechnische Verfahren und Produkte (Environmental Relief Effects through Nanotechnological Processes and Products). UBA-Texte 33/2010, Dessau. [3] Steinfeldt, M. et al. 2007. Nanotechnologies, Hazards and Resource Efficiency. Springer Heidelberg. [4] Steinfeldt M, 2013. Life cycle data on nanomaterials and nanoproducts. Project report of the work package 4.5 of the NanoSustain project, Bremen. [5] Steinfeldt, M. (2014): Life-Cycle Assessment of Nanotechnology-Based Applications. In: Rickerby, D. (Ed.): Nanotechnology for Sustainable Manufacturing. CRC Press Traylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, London, New York, p.263-284. [6] Steinfeldt, M. (2014): Precautionary Design of Nanomaterials and Nanoproducts. In: Michalek, T. et al. (Ed.): Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions. Informatorium, Prague, p. 321-328.
        Speaker: Michael Steinfeldt (Universität Bremen)
        Slides
      • 11:30 AM
        Nanomaterials release from product´s life cycle: the GUIDEnano project 30m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Stefano Zuin, Venice Research Consortium, Via della Libertà 12, 30175 Venice / Italy Socorro Vázquez-Campos, LEITAT Technological Center, c/ de la Innovació, 2, 08225, Barcelona / Spain Abstract: Currently the potential impacts of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on humans and the environment have generated considerable research interest, since their use and diversity of applications in commercial products have grown extensively over the past decade, and it is expected to continue growing. The main objective of this work is to develop a strategy to identify and predict amount of release of ENM and the form these released ENMs (e.g. free, aggregates, embedded in matrix and/or ion leaching, as added or degraded) throughout the life cycle of nano-enabled products, within the framework of the GUIDEnano FP7 European research project. This project ultimately aims at developing innovative methodologies to evaluate and manage human and environmental health risks of nano-enabled products, considering their whole life cycle. Results obtained from literature review will be presented, categorized by type of product tested, experimental set-up, receptor compartment or released material properties. Special attention has been paid to both use and end-of-life life cycle stages of the nano-enabled products. In addition, a series of experimental simulations based on the industrial case studies proposed within GUIDEnano project will be described. The presentation will also outline the main findings up to 12 months of the ongoing project.
        Speaker: Alejandro Vilchez (LEITAT Technological Center)
      • 12:00 PM
        Probabilistic modelling of prospective environmental concentrations of Gold nanoparticles from medical applications as a basis for risk assessment 30m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Unique physical and chemical properties and ease of surface functionalisation of GNPs makes it attractive for widespread use in the medical field. GNPs can be used as imaging agents, targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, detection of biomarkers, immunoassays, antibacterial, etc. However, mass production and use might give rise to potentially new environmental hazards and risks in the future, as it has been found that GNPs may have toxic effects In this study, we (1) estimated the total consumption of GNPs used in medical applications for the UK and USA; (2) modelled the prospective GNPs flows along the product life cycles using established probabilistic material flow modelling approaches and predicted the environmental concentrations (Gottschalk et al. 2009); and (3) conducted an environment risk assessment (ERA) for aquatic and terrestrial compartments by comparing the prospective environmental concentrations with probabilistic species sensitivity distribution. Highest concentrations of GNPs were found in the sludge from Sewage Treatment Plants, for both countries, reaching 100 µg/kg. Results from the ERA for terrestrial and aquatic environments indicate that there is currently no risk from GNPs, although the scarcity of data at present means that the model should be re-run as data emerges.
        Speaker: Indrani Mahapatra (School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham)
        Slides
      • 12:30 PM
        Silver nanoparticles biokinetics study by mathematical modelling of their transport in living organism 30m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        V.A. Demin 1,2, I.V. Gmoshinsky 3, V.F. Demin 1,2, A.A. Antsiferova 1,2, P.K. Kashkarov 1,2,4 1 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region, 141700 Russia 2 National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, 123182 Russia 3 RAS Scientific Research Institute of Nutrition, Moscow, 109240 Russia 4 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia In this work we demonstrate the possibilities of mathematical "chamber" model of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) transport (absorption, distribution and bioaccumulation) in living organism, on an example of silver NPs in laboratory rats. When constructing a model, data of experimental work were used about the bioaccumulation and biodistribution of silver NPs with average diameter of 35 ± 15 nm, radiolabeled by 110mAg. In a minimally acceptable form model included all “chambers” in which the content of the NPs throughout the duration of the experiment was not lower than 20-25 % of the content in the blood, namely the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), blood itself, bone-muscular carcass, liver and spleen. Transport of NPs within these «cameras» was described by a system of 5 independent linear differential equations of the 1st order. Solution of this system in numerical form, taking into account a timing of the excretion of NPs from the GIT with the feces, made it possible to determine the rate constants of inter-organ NPs transfer. Using them the calculation was done of the peak (maximum) and quasi-stationary NPs content in critical organs targets, respectively for the cases of acute (single) and subchronic (repeated) administration into the GIT, depending on the dose of NPs. The results obtained indicate the prospects of the method of mathematical modeling for inter-organ transport and distribution of NPs to assess their possible toxic effects on the system level, using previously obtained in vitro results and biokinetic studies. The work was financially supported by Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (grant № RFMEFI57514X0072).
        Speaker: Vyacheslav A. Demin (National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, 123182 Russia, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technologies, Moscow Russia)
        Slides
    • 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
      Lunch break 1h Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 2:00 PM 2:40 PM
      Plenary Lecture 6: Entropic control, Sustainable Nanotechnology at the molecular level

      Speakers: John Warner

    • 2:40 PM 3:40 PM
      Discussion Panel 5: Agriculture & Food Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230

      Chairs: Jason White, Melanie Kah

    • 3:40 PM 4:00 PM
      Coffee break 20m Foyer

      Foyer

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
    • 4:00 PM 6:00 PM
      6AToxicology and human health risks Breakout 1

      Breakout 1

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 4:00 PM
        Distribution and Biological Effects of Fullerene C60, Titanium Dioxide and Silver Nanoparticles after Single and Multiple Intragastrical Administrations to Rats 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Olga V. Morozova, A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, morozova@inbi.ras.ru; Svetlana M. Pridvorova, A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, sh-p_s@mail.ru; Tatyana A. Platonova, A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, platonova@inbi.ras.ru; Alexander I. Yaropolov, A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, yaropolov@inbi.ras.ru; Sergey G. Klochkov, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, klochkov@ipac.ac.ru; Sergey O. Bachurin, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, bachurin@ipac.ac.ru Abstract: Investigations of the biological effects of nanomaterials, their biodistribution in target organs and tissues after different dosage and routes of exposure are important for assessing the risk of nanotechnology products. The present work is an in-depth study, including the investigation of the localization of fullerene С60, titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticles (NPs) after intragastrical exposure of rats under conditions of acute (single administration) and sub-acute (multiple administrations) toxicity, the observation of the status of experimental animals, pathomorphological analysis of their internal organs, and measurement of the dynamics of key hematological and biochemical parameters. NPs localization in organs of the exposed rats was revealed by mean of different analytical techniques: atomic absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and HPLC with spectrophotometric detection. It was shown that singly or multiply administered NPs absorbed from gastrointestinal tract with infiltration into the bloodstream and translocation into secondary organs. Some biochemical parameters and hematological indices of the treated rats changed in comparison to control animals. However, the exposure did not cause lethality, substantial behavior deviations, water and food consumption, pathomorphology of the internal organs. The amounts of NPs accumulated in organs and tissues are far smaller than the administered dose that is the indication of their efficient excretion. This study was funded by MARINA project (contract № 236215) of the EU 7th Framework Program
        Speaker: Olga D. Hendrickson (A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences)
        Slides
      • 4:24 PM
        Role of Biological Monitoring in Nano-Safety 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Adriele Prina-Mello School of Medicine and CRANN Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre of Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland prinamea@tcd.ie Abstract: The ability to predict and then mitigate potential health effects is mandatory for sustainability of nanotechnology. Although screening strategies to expedite hazard and risk assessment (RA) of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) proceed, the complex and multi-faceted nature of events occurring at the nano-bio interfaces at the organism level means that currently the full replacement of in vivo assessment is not possible. Since the chemical and biological identities of ENM are subject to changes in environmental settings from emission sources to site of accumulation and effect within the body, a case-by-case approach to assess their hazard potential using simplified models to predict complex outcomes is required. It is therefore foreseeable that the knowledge-based body of experimental data can take advantage from a complementary approach relying on biomarkers of exposure to detect relevant effects in target organs at early and reversible stages and to identify subgroups at risk. Though the issue of (nano)specificity of biomarkers is challenging, yet evidence resulting from experimental and epidemiological studies with conventional particles suggests similar paradigms for particle/nanoparticle hazard. Validation of biomarkers in human studies will allow to overcome uncertainties due to the use of simplified models, lack of quantitative data, and provide RA with relevant information.
        Speaker: Enrico Bergamaschi (University of Parma)
        Slides
      • 4:48 PM
        Synergistic TLR4-dependent effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and LPS on the activation of murine macrophages 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Enrico Bergamaschi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy enrico.bergamaschi@unipr.it Abstract: Nanomaterials may bind bioactive environmental contaminants, such as bacterial endotoxins, thus potentially acting as carriers for toxicants. To investigate the functional implications of this interaction, we have investigated the inflammogenic response mediated by two preparations of TiO2 nanoparticles (NP), co-administered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in Raw264.7 murine macrophages. TiO2 NP synergized the effect of LPS on both Nos2 mRNA and Nos2 protein expression as well as on NO production. TiO2 NP also potentiated the LPS effects on Ptgs2 expression and cytokine secretion. NP uptake was reduced by the cytoskeletal drug cytochalasin B thus suppressing the synergy between TiO2 NP and LPS. Pre-treatment with the TLR4 inhibitors polymyxin B and CLI-095 abolished the synergistic effect that was also partially hampered by the inhibition of p38 but not of ERK1/2, MAPK. This findings suggest that TiO2 NP enhance macrophage activation by LPS via a TLR4-dependent mechanism that involves p38 and an intracellular site; other NP, such as polystyrene NP, show the same effects. Different NP may deliver bioactive molecules to target organs through a “Trojan Horse effect”, thus enhancing macrophage activation leading to increased inflammation and worsening inflammatory status. Supported by EU FP7 Project Sanowork (Grant NMP4-SL-2012-280716 )
        Speaker: Massimiliano Bianchi (Department of Biomedical Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Italy)
        Slides
      • 5:12 PM
        Feasibility of using in vitro toxicity studies for human risk assessment of nanomaterials 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        "Additional Authors: CRAIG POLAND ; Institute of Occupational Medicine; Craig.Poland@iom-world.org ENRICO BERGAMASCHI; University of Parma; enrico.bergamaschi@unipr.it LUCIA MIGLIORE; University of Pisa; l.migliore@geog.unipi.it ANNA COSTA;Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Ceramici; anna.costa@istec.cnr.it Abstract: Given ethical, technical and economical considerations, the use of in vitro testing of nanomaterials is considered a preferred alternative to in vivo testing. However, the use of in vitro testing for human health risk assessment is still challenging. The hazard data generated within the Sanowork project is based on a battery of in vitro studies. The nanomaterials included in the project have several safer by design modifications. In an attempt to use as much as possible in vitro data on the risk assessment, we developed a theoretical approach to extrapolate provisional worker exposure limits on the basis of such in vitro studies. This approach was mainly based on the hypothesis that comparing the in vitro toxicity profile of the Sanowork nanomaterials and Benchmark nanomaterials together with in silico dosimetry modelling, would allow calculating approximated human reference values. Benchmark nanomaterials were selected so that they share relevant toxic mechanisms of action, and human reference values or in vivo relevant data are available. Prior to applying the Sanowork Aproach, a proof of concept of the whole process was performed using a group of TiO2 nanomaterials for which we were able to obtain both in vitro and in vivo data from the literature."
        Speaker: Joan Cabellos (LEITAT Technological Center)
        Slides
      • 5:36 PM
        The relationship between the biological effects of Titanium Dioxide nanofibers and their aspect ratio 24m Breakout 1

        Breakout 1

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        A strict relationship between the toxicity of fiber-like nanomaterials and their aspect ratio emerges from the fiber paradigm. As a consequence, fiber shortening is expected to reduce material toxicity. Titanium dioxide nanofibers (TiO2NF) are a novel fibrous nanomaterial, used in several industrial applications but still requiring complete toxicological characterization. We evaluated the toxicity of commercial TiO2NF (length, 0.2-30um; thickness, 0.2 to 0.6um; aspect ratio 1:28, consisting of primary TiO2 nanoparticles), before and after ball-milling, which lowered their aspect ratio to 1:8. The evaluated endpoints were cell viability, inflammatory markers, and trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), an indicator of the epithelial barrier competence. TiO2 NF exhibited cell specific cytotoxicity, markedly decreasing viability in A549 epithelial cells but not in Raw 264.7 macrophages. A dose- and time-dependent TEER decrease in CaLu-3 cell monolayers was also detected. Ball-milling significantly mitigated these effects but, conversely, enhanced the expression of inflammatory markers in macrophages. This study indicates that TiO2NF exert significant toxic effects including cytotoxicity, macrophage activation and epithelial barrier impairment. While aspect ratio reduction mitigates TiO2NF effects on cell viability and epithelial barriers, it enhances the inflammogenic activity of the nanomaterial, indicating that different structural determinants are implied in the biological effects of fiber-like nanomaterials.
        Speaker: Manfredi Allegri (Dept. of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (SBiBiT), University of Parma)
    • 4:00 PM 6:00 PM
      6B Occupational and consumer exposure Breakout 2

      Breakout 2

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 4:00 PM
        Comparing workers measured dust exposure with predicted exposures using a NF/FF model, NanoSafer, and the ART exposure assessment tools 30m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: Kirsten I Kling; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; kil@nrcwe.dk Marcus Levin; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; mle@nrcwe.dk Keld A. Jensen; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark; kaj@nrcwe.dk Abstract: Here we measured near field (NF) and far field (FF) concentrations in a paint factory during pouring of paint pigments/fillers from 25 kg and 500 kg bags [1]. The pigments/fillers dustiness indices were characterized by using the down-scaled EN15051 dustiness drum [2]. Dustiness indices were used to calculate the dusts emission rates used in the tools by taking into account modifying factors [3]. The measured concentrations were compared with concentrations predicted with a NF/FF model (e.g. [4]), the ART, and the NanoSafer. We found that a handling energy value deviated significantly from previously assigned values. We found that the ART tool overestimates ~5 times the exposure concentration and the emission rate is not directly related to the amount of material used. Studies in progress on the comparability of the basic exposure estimations in the different tools will be presented. As expected, the emissions and modifying factors need to be studied in well controlled environments to improve our understanding.
        Speaker: Antti J. Koivisto (National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark)
        Slides
      • 4:30 PM
        Ranges in respirable and inhalable dustiness and dustiness kinetics of nanomaterial powders as determined with the prototype small rotating drum – priority parameters for exposure assessment 30m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Additional Authors: A.Ø. Jensen, National Research Centre for the Working Environment B. Liguori, Technical University of Denmark A.J. Koivisto, National Research Centre for the Working Environment I.K. Koponen, National Research Centre for the Working Environment Abstract: The OECD WPMNM (Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials) has listed dustiness as a priority data for risk assessment of nanomaterials. To enable testing of small volumes and improve handling safety, Schneider and Jensen [1] developed a miniaturized version of the EN15051 rotating drum for nanomaterial testing. This small rotating drum (SRD) is now under standardization in CEN. Here, the results obtained on more than 80 different powders tested using the SRD are discussed in regard to the traditional mass-based respirable and inhalable dustiness indices, their size-characteristics, and dustiness kinetics. These are parameters deemed important for use of dustiness results in exposure assessment modeling under development in e.g., the EU FP7 project SUN. The results demonstrate an extreme range in dustiness levels and variations in dustiness kinetics from instant release to almost constant rate “emitters”. Recently, these two parameters were used product evaluation of pharmaceutical powder ingredients [2]. The observed dustiness characteristics indicates that grouping powders by dustiness indices is a difficult task and that the conventional dustiness categories established in EN15051 may need reconsideration. Schneider T and Jensen KA. Ann. Occ. Hyg. 52/1, 23-24 (2008) Levin M, Koponen IK, and Jensen KA. J. Occ. And Env. Hyg., 11/3, 165-172 (2014)
        Speaker: Keld A. Jensen ("National Research Centre for the Working Environment ")
        Slides
      • 5:00 PM
        Nanoparticle Surface Activity: Understanding, Measuring and Integrating it into Inhalation Dosimetry 30m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        This presentation will analyze the pitfalls of current nanoparticle exposure metrics for health effects studies using real-world exposure scenarios. Through case studies and literature review, the talk will emphasize the critical and, at present, unmet need for more selectivity in the chemical characterization of airborne nano aerosols, and exploration of the concept of dose that integrates surface area and surface activity. Different principles employed in measuring surface activity-offline and online-including Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, will be summarized and compared. Several commonly used methods for ROS and surface activity measurements of engineered nanomaterials (ENM), such as the Ferric Reducing Ability of Serum Assay (FRAS), dichlorofluorescin (DCFH) assay, dithiothreitrol (DTT) and electron spin resonance (ESR) will be compared for diverse engineered nanomaterial (ENM) classes. The within- and between-class variations in surface activity for various classes of nanomaterials will be summarized. Validation of these measures against inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo will also be discussed. The presentation will conclude with a summary of performance requirements that need to be taken into consideration for a workable personal monitor for surface activity and surface area measurements and compare those to the first generation prototypes of near real-time monitors for surface activity.
        Speaker: Dhimiter Bello (UMass Lowell)
        Slides
      • 5:30 PM
        Assessment of dermal exposure to nano-objects, and their agglomerates and aggregates (NOAA); Results from a pre-normative research project 30m Breakout 2

        Breakout 2

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Occupational dermal exposure to NOAA can be relevant in view of penetration through the skin, local skin effects and inadvertent ingestion. The potential for consequences of dermal exposure to nanomaterials will be determined by both parameters of exposure and other parameters. With respect to penetration and local effects, the integrity of the skin is an important determinant , whereas for ingestion the frequency of hand-mouth will affect the oral intake. Size is an important factor for penetration of the nanoparticle through the skin. It has been demonstrated that only very small particles (< 4nm) can penetrate the intact skin, whereas larger particles can only penetrate and permeate in damaged skin. Since the condition of the skin is important, the combination of job titles with high incidence of skin disruption and the use of NOAA or nano-enabled products indicates potential risk for enhanced skin penetration or local effects . Explorative research showed that the most promising method to measure exposure on skin in view seems to be the removal from (surrogate) skin, by tape lifting, and consecutive analysis by SEM. All results were connected into a framework that will be helpful to flag potential risk due to exposure to NOAA
        Speaker: Derk Brouwer (TNO Innovation for Life)
        Slides
    • 4:00 PM 6:00 PM
      6C Environmental exposure, release & fate Breakout 3

      Breakout 3

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
      • 4:00 PM
        Single particle ICPMS based methods for tracking environmental leaching of nanoparticles from consumer products 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        Globally industrial production of engineered nanoparticles increases dramatically, what raises concerns about their release and fate in the environment. There are numbers of methods for nanoparticle characterization and detection including TEM, DLS, NTA and many others but not one of these methods is fit for purpose regarding mainly low detection limits in ng/L range, which is environmentally relevant. During the last few years single particle ICPMS (spICPMS)technique showed a great potential for detection of gold and silver nanoparticles in the ng/L concentration levels. Within the project SUN we are developing spICPMS method using triple quadrupole ICPMS to study potential release of metallic nanoparticles from nanoparticle based consumer products into simulated aquatic environment namely for Fe2O3, CuO and TiO2 nanoparticles. In this contribution the spICPMS method is evaluated in terms of particle size detection limit for Fe, Cu and Ti based nanoparticles and spICPMS method development strategy is presented.
        Speaker: Frank von der Kammer (University of Vienna)
        Slides
      • 4:24 PM
        Novel method to address the environmental impact of nanomaterials in the use phase: the SUN approach 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        It is now acknowledged that nanomaterials will experience several transformations along their life cycle, upon formulation, production processes, aging and disposal. However most efforts still focus on assessing the impact of pristine nanomaterials, while formulated and aged nanomaterials are rarely investigated, resulting in significant knowledge gap. This situation is due for a great part to the difficulty of preparing large amounts of aged materials. Indeed all published studies only report few amounts of released nanomaterials, which are insufficient for ecotoxicity testing. SUN project proposes a new approach to this issue. Based on the observation that nanomaterials are most often released within their product matrix, a cryo-milling protocol was developed to produce large quantities of fragmented products (FP) that can be aged afterwards to reproduce any transformation the material would normally experience under use. To validate this approach a case study was carried out on polyethylene with 1% Fe2O3 nanoparticles (Fe2O3_PE), serving as pigments with color index PR101 that achieves the longterm stability of pigment particles and yet is transparent in thin films due to a diameter of only 32nm. The response of Fe2O3_PE FP to 3 months weathering in a climatic chamber was investigated and compared to that of small plates of the same material, representative for the final product (car bumper). Release was quantified and transformations of solid matrix induced by weathering in both cases were monitored by IR spectroscopy and a combination of X-ray techniques (XRD, µXRF, micro and nano X-ray tomography).
        Speaker: Lorette Scifo (CEREGE)
      • 4:48 PM
        Interactive spICP-MS data treatment using Nanocount 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Interest in applying single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) in risk assessment of inorganic engineered nanomaterials (ENM) has been increasing because it is currently the only technique capable of measuring number-based particle size distributions of ENM at the likely low number concentrations in complex environments. However, the cumbersome treatment of large spICP-MS datasets slows the widespread adoption of spICP-MS. Nanocount©, furthers this adoption by accepting data from any ICP-MS so that it can interactively be calculated into particle size distributions. The capabilities to correct for drift and to distinguish dissolved and nanopartiuclate signals are demonstrated using non-ideal data of 15 nm Au NPs and FAST spICP-MS data of Ag ENM in wastewater treatment sludges. It is shown how more advanced data-treatment algorithms such as deconvolution are required to measure the lowest sizes possible where considerable overlap between dissolved and particulate signals exists. Moreover, the existence of many different data-treatment algorithms such as n x sigma, K-means clustering, deconvolution and FAST spICP-MS as well as different representations of the final particle size distribution can lead to widely different results. It is thus argued here that a large portion of the variability in spICP-MS results can be explained by differences in data treatment.
        Speaker: Mr Geert Cornelis (Gothenburg University)
        Slides
      • 5:12 PM
        Nanotechnology : the missing piece of the life puzzle 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        In all the countries the appetite of scientists for nanotechnology, and the belief in its ability to provide more efficient solutions to technical issues that are facing our societies, have been growing very fast during the last decade. Also, a tremendous development of membrane technologies has led to consider them like "dominant technologies", with the emergence of a new think-tank / action-tank named "membrane engineering" and a lot of applications with environmental issues (water, air…). Because many of these technologies depend on nano-scale processes, it is reasonable to expect a strong impact of nanotech on performance of membrane systems of the future, particularly in tremendous field such as desalination. Nature on its side has solved long ago the problem of controlling the selective transfer of water and salts, with wonderful nano-tools: aquaporins , ion conducting channels … Today researchers are trying to imitate nature with new aquaporin-laced polymer membranes, aquaporin mimicking carbon nanotubes… In what extend human achievements for highly efficient membranes have been delayed by our ignorance of nanotech? In what extend sustainability may be affected by revolutions in progress on this area? This is the kind of questions that our presentation intends to deal with.
        Speaker: Gilbert M. Rios (European Memrane House (EMH))
      • 5:36 PM
        Speciation and mechanisms of nanomaterial release from nano-enabled products during their life cycle: Self-cleaning cement as building material case study 24m Breakout 3

        Breakout 3

        NH Laguna Palace Hotel

        Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230
        The industrial scale production and wide variety of applications of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) and their possible release into the natural aquatic environment have produced an increasing concern among the nanotechnology and environmental science community. Nanomaterials are used in construction to improve the properties and functions of commonly used building materials like cement, glass, paint… A part of this production concerns a new type of cement, called self-cleaning cement which maintains clean and white wall fronts. Such building materials may also provide interesting pollution-reducing properties. The technology is based on the photocatalytic property of nano-TiO2 added in the cement matrix. During continuous UV radiation exposure, TiO2 NPs lead to the oxidation (i.e. degradation) of compounds adsorbed at the cement surface. Such nanomaterial application in building construction is promising as it exhibits improved properties but its environmental validation (in terms of impacts and risks associated with the incorporation of TiO2 NPs) is also required. Indeed cement is altered during their use when exposed to water (e.g. rain draining on cement wall). An altered layer is then formed at its surface where numerous and complex reactions occur such as cement phase congruent or incongruent dissolution, secondary phase formation, etc... This layer exhibits an increase of porosity. Cement leaching behavior and associated elements released into the environment, is well described in the literature but the behavior of the incorporated TiO2 NPs is currently unknown. Release of TiO2 NPs, more precisely, the emission of nano-products degradation residues (NDR) into the environment (waters, soils …) is suspected as alteration time increases. The aim of this study is to determine the mechanisms of nano-TiO2 release from a self-cleaning cement during aging process and to identify cement parameters controlling it. We performed cement accelerating aging procedure on cement with various initial porosities to generate different rates of cement matrix degradation. One of the main objectives was to address the influence of cement porosity on leaching behaviour of TiO2 NPs. To simulate the alteration phase, static leaching tests (liquid/solid ratio (L/S) of 100) were performed during 7 days. Each sample was placed within a dialysis membrane (10 kDa) filled with ultrapure water and submerged in a leachate solution (ultrapure water) to isolate the released particulate fraction from the sub-released soluble fraction. The elements released (particulate and soluble fractions) and their kinetic were quantified by ICP-OES and characterized with DLS and TEM. We analyzed the solid phase (core to altered layer) using several X-ray based techniques: XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), µ-XRF (micro X-Ray Spectroscopy) and an unprecedented combination of nano and micro X-ray computed tomography to perform a complete altered cement matrix characterization including pore structure. Original results concerning the low-stability of the cement matrix while NDR are released in fresh water will be detailed with regards to the size and surface properties of nano-TiO2. More over a deep investigation of the alteration mechanisms of cement will help deciphering the cement porous network properties that control nano-TiO2 release. Based on our results a predictive strategy will be proposed.
        Speaker: Nathan Bossa (CEREGE-INERIS)
    • 6:00 PM 6:15 PM
      Closing Ceremony Plenary

      Plenary

      NH Laguna Palace Hotel

      Viale Ancona, n° 2 30172 Venice-Mestre, Italy Tel: +39 041 829 6111 Fax: +39 848 390 230