Nano particles: knowledge development at the heart of NANION

During three years a team of researchers specialized in the domains of materials and environment worked on the project NANION – Nanomaterial toxicity – The role of surface properties and released ions for uptake and effects. NANION recently successfully came to an end and the publication of results is still ongoing.

NANION research project was led by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and part of the multi-annual thematic research programme of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR- CORE). In this context, the prime objective was to contribute to strengthen the scientific quality of Luxembourg’s public research. NANION was part of the country’s priority research domain: Sustainable Resource Management in Luxembourg (SR) and more precisely, sustainable use of water resources.

The main point of this research project was to study the toxicity of nanomaterials and more particularly to quantify the contribution of the particles and ions to the overall toxicity. The study aimed at to understand the release of ion and how this may reduce toxicity.

The principal result was knowledge development and mechanistic understanding. Indeed, as part of this project, researchers gained expertise in the field and worked on a 3D-co culture model for intestinal toxicity as a model to study effects of oral uptake in humans. The model that was refined and developed in this project it is now suitable to be applied to nano technologies. The model was characterized, submitted for publication, approved and published: “Effects of silver nanoparticles and ions on a co-culture model for the gastrointestinal epithelium” in February 2016 in the scientific journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, which is one of the highest ranked journal in this field. The model will be exploited as part of new projects and can also be proposed to institutes as well as companies.

The results of NANION were presented at the 8th International Nanotoxicology Conference in Boston (USA) on June 1-4, 2016 by LIST researchers. A great opportunity to share expertise and knowledge!

>> We invite you to read the NANION online project page to know more about scientific details.

In an attempt to go further, a new project has recently been launched NANOGAM – Understanding the impact of engineered nanoparticles non-vertebrate model. This is not the follow-up of NANION but the aspirations are identical: There is a need for knowledge that will make it possible to predict certain biological effects based on material properties.

>> For any further information, do not hesitate to contact Dr Arno Gutleb via email.