The NanoCare project: A German initiative on health aspects of synthetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanotechnology is increasingly considered to be the future technology. It will enable science and industry to provide new and better product solutions for the society. NanoCare is a German project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which aims to broaden knowledge about synthetic nanomaterials with regard to the potential impacts of nanomaterials on human health. 13 partners from industry, universities and research institutes are contributing their expertise to this partnership. The work plan of the NanoCare project is composed of three different parts: (1) the generation, (2) the management, and (3) the transfer of knowledge. The production of synthetic nanoparticles, the subsequent analysis of primary particles, aggregates and agglomerates, as well as the behaviour in biological media and effects on biological systems are focused in the generation of knowledge. In addition to the production and characterization of new synthetic nanoparticles (metal oxides like zirconium dioxide or zinc oxide), titanium dioxide and Carbon Black will be established as reference materials. This enables the comparison of the results of all partners of our project. Various analytical methods for characterization will be applied, for example: transmission and scanning electron microscopy, inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and the Brunner-Edward-Teller method (BET). In vitro studies will systematically investigate biological mechanisms of action of nanoparticles and the dependency on their size, shape, zeta potential and other important properties. In vitro data will be complemented by in vivo studies. Another work package deals with the measurement of working place exposure and agglomerate stabilities. Established measurement devices and methods will be developed further in order to determine aerosols and nanoparticles directly at the workplace during ongoing work processes. The stabilities of the agglomerated nanoparticle powders are additionally investigated with three different methods to assess deagglomeration probabilities which also influence the possible exposure. Data created within the NanoCare project consortium will be interpreted together with information from literature and then published for the public in a data base on the World Wide Web (www.nanopartikel.info). Furthermore, the results will be presented and discussed with the interested public, politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at dialogue events. Together with two other BMBF-funded projects (INOS, TRACER) NanoCare will help to standardize analytical procedures and will substantially increase knowledge about the biological activities of nanomaterials. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.