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Minimum information reporting in bio–nano experimental literature

Abstract

Studying the interactions between nanoengineered materials and biological systems plays a vital role in the development of biological applications of nanotechnology and the improvement of our fundamental understanding of the bio–nano interface. A significant barrier to progress in this multidisciplinary area is the variability of published literature with regards to characterizations performed and experimental details reported. Here, we suggest a ‘minimum information standard’ for experimental literature investigating bio–nano interactions. This standard consists of specific components to be reported, divided into three categories: material characterization, biological characterization and details of experimental protocols. Our intention is for these proposed standards to improve reproducibility, increase quantitative comparisons of bio–nano materials, and facilitate meta analyses and in silico modelling.

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Fig. 1: Summary of MIRIBEL components, guiding principles and potential benefits.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (Project Number CE140100036) and under the ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship scheme (F.C., FL120100030; T.P.D., FL140100052; J.J.G., FL150100060). M.B. acknowledges support from H2020/European Commission through a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship under grant agreement no. 745676. F.C. acknowledges the award of a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Principal Research Fellowship (APP1135806). M.K. receives support from NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (M.K.; APP1119152) and Cancer Council New South Wales Program Grant (PG16-01). M.K., T.P.D. and J.J.G. receive support from NHMRC Program Grant (APP1091261). A.P.R.J. receives support from the NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (APP1141551) and NHMRC Project Grants (APP1129672, APP1124161). R.G.P. receives support from NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship (APP1058565) and NHMRC Program Grant (APP1037320). W.J.P. acknowledges funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (project DFG PA 794/28-1) and a visiting professor fellowship from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology. M.M.S. acknowledges support from the ERC Seventh Framework Programme Consolidator grant “Naturale CG” [616417], the i-sense EPSRC IRC in Early Warning Sensing Systems for Infectious Diseases (EP/K031953/1) and the EPSRC grant “Bio-functionalised nanomaterials for ultrasensitive biosensing” (EP/K020641/1). The authors thank A. E. Burke and C. Lynm for assistance with the preparation of Fig. 1. The development of these guidelines was led by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology (https://www.cbns.org.au/).

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Faria, M., Björnmalm, M., Thurecht, K.J. et al. Minimum information reporting in bio–nano experimental literature. Nature Nanotech 13, 777–785 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-018-0246-4

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