Featured
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Research Briefing |
Oligomer nanoparticle release from a biodegradable plastic triggers acute gut inflammation
Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics are shown to undergo enzymatic hydrolysis by lipases found in the human gut to generate PLA oligomers, which self-aggregate to form nanoplastic particles. The oligomers and their nanoparticles bioaccumulated in multiple organs of a mouse model and caused acute intestinal inflammation.
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Comment |
The need for awareness and action in managing nanowaste
Waste containing nanomaterials — or nanowaste — is an emerging safety concern worldwide, warranting specific environmentally sound waste management and regulation.
- Fabienne Schwab
- , Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
- & Alke Petri-Fink
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Article |
Oligomer nanoparticle release from polylactic acid plastics catalysed by gut enzymes triggers acute inflammation
A large-scale pharmacophore model supported by in vitro ligand-binding studies suggests polylactic acid oligomer toxicity in a mouse model is due to the inhibition of matrix metallopeptidase 12.
- Mengjing Wang
- , Qianqian Li
- & Mingliang Fang
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Article |
Predicting accidental release of engineered nanomaterials to the environment
Quantification of the accidental release rates of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) would inform risk management strategies and their implementation, but a comprehensive assessment of ENM accidental release is not currently available. Here the authors present a predictive study of the release of ENMs following accidents during their fabrication, transport and end-of-life processes in the next 10 and 30 years, based on conceptual models inspired by the nuclear power sector.
- Fadri Gottschalk
- , Bruno Debray
- & Ralf Kaegi
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Analysis
| Open Access
Potential use of engineered nanoparticles in ocean fertilization for large-scale atmospheric carbon dioxide removal
This Analysis considers the potential benefits and challenges of applying engineered nanoparticles for artificial-ocean-fertilization-driven carbon sequestration
- Peyman Babakhani
- , Tanapon Phenrat
- & Michael F. Hochella Jr.
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Article |
Steam disinfection releases micro(nano)plastics from silicone-rubber baby teats as examined by optical photothermal infrared microspectroscopy
Steam disinfection of silicone-rubber baby teats can lead to steam etching and chemical modification of the teat surface. This can release micro- and nanoplastics and result in ingestion. The results suggested that by the age of one year, a baby could ingest more than 600,000 microplastics.
- Yu Su
- , Xi Hu
- & Rong Ji
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Comment |
Achieving sustainable nanomaterial design though strategic cultivation of big data
Standardization and interoperability of data for both the functional and environmental performance properties of nanomaterials is essential to accelerate sustainable design.
- Desirée L. Plata
- & Nina Z. Janković
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Comment |
Local development of nanotechnology-based diagnostics
Sharing protocols with the end-users may allow their flexible implementation to produce nanotechnology solutions for global health challenges that better cater for local needs.
- Jose Gomez-Marquez
- & Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli
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Article |
Multifunctional nanocoated membranes for high-rate electrothermal desalination of hypersaline waters
A hexagonal boron nitride nanocoating grown directly on a stainless-steel mesh enables ultrahigh power input intensity in an electrothermal membrane distillation system to desalinate hypersaline solutions with exceptionally high water flux, single-pass water recovery and heat utilization efficiency.
- Kuichang Zuo
- , Weipeng Wang
- & Qilin Li
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Review Article |
Key principles and operational practices for improved nanotechnology environmental exposure assessment
The operationalization and improvement of environmental exposure assessment models for engineered nanomaterials can build on ten emerging principles relating to their release pathways, waste handling, transformations, influence of the properties on reactions and role that organisms can play in their fate and transport.
- Claus Svendsen
- , Lee A. Walker
- & David J. Spurgeon
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Perspective |
Towards single-species selectivity of membranes with subnanometre pores
Membranes with subnanometre pores have the potential to provide solute-to-solute selectivity. This Perspective explores challenges and provides guidelines for designing next-generation single-species selective membranes
- Razi Epsztein
- , Ryan M. DuChanois
- & Menachem Elimelech
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Comment |
Best practices from nano-risk analysis relevant for other emerging technologies
The experiences gained from the past 15 years of nanomaterial risk analysis may be useful for the risk analysis efforts of other emerging technologies.
- Khara Grieger
- , Jacob L. Jones
- & Anders Baun
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Q&A |
Expectations from nano in agriculture
J. Scott Angle is the director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in the US. Anne Mullen asks him about opportunities for nanotechnology in agriculture and food security. The views expressed below do not necessarily represent the official views of NIFA or the US Department of Agriculture.
- Anne Mullen
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Editorial |
Nanoplastic should be better understood
Plastic nanoparticles raise concern because of their potential impact on the environment. However, many questions need to be answered to establish how dangerous they really are.
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Comment |
Things we know and don’t know about nanoplastic in the environment
Fragments of plastic smaller than 1 μm have raised concerns about the potential risks they pose to the environment. Research will have to answer a number of questions to establish what the realistic risks are.
- Stephan Wagner
- & Thorsten Reemtsma
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Comment |
Assessing the environmental transformation of nanoplastic through 13C-labelled polymers
To assess potential risks posed by plastic nanoparticles, we must study the way in which they transfer and transform in the environment. Using 13C-labelled nanoplastics could provide a safe and effective way to establish whether the plastic is mineralized or whether it persists in the environment.
- Michael Sander
- , Hans-Peter E. Kohler
- & Kristopher McNeill
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News & Views |
Proxies for nanoplastic
The ability to synthesize metal-doped nanoplastic opens windows to accurately assess the potential environmental hazards that nanoplastic poses.
- Albert A. Koelmans
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Editorial |
Nanomaterials definition matters
The definition and classification of nanomaterials in regulations leave too much room for interpretation.
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Editorial |
Graphene macrostructures and the environment
The connection between properties and environmental performance of graphene-derived structures is necessary to develop materials that can improve industry standards.
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Article |
Synthesis of metal-doped nanoplastics and their utility to investigate fate and behaviour in complex environmental systems
Analytical challenges in detecting nanoplastics have hindered the understanding of their behaviour in environmental systems, but these difficulties can be circumvented by synthesizing metal-doped nanoplastics (where the metal can be measured as a proxy for the plastic) to undertake mechanistic investigations of particle fate, transport and biological interactions in lab and pilot-scale studies.
- Denise M. Mitrano
- , Anna Beltzung
- & Felix Schmidt
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Review Article |
Environmental performance of graphene-based 3D macrostructures
This review discusses relationships between the material properties of three-dimensional graphene structures and their environmental performance.
- Nariman Yousefi
- , Xinglin Lu
- & Nathalie Tufenkji
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News & Views |
Inching closer to realistic exposure models
Engineered nanomaterials are often highly reactive and readily transform to new species. New modelling capabilities incorporate these transformations into estimates of environmental exposure concentrations and associated risks more accurately.
- Gregory V. Lowry
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Comment |
The role of nanotechnology in industrial water treatment
- David Jassby
- , Tzahi Y. Cath
- & Herve Buisson
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News & Views |
Sustainable nanomaterials by design
A new material selection tool offers a proactive perspective on nanotechnology research and development.
- Callie W. Babbitt
- & Elizabeth A. Moore
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Perspective |
Emerging opportunities for nanotechnology to enhance water security
This Perspective provides an overview of the potential aspects of water treatment and cleaning in which nanotechnology could play an important role.
- Pedro J. J. Alvarez
- , Candace K. Chan
- & Dino Villagrán
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Perspective |
Challenges and prospects of advanced oxidation water treatment processes using catalytic nanomaterials
This Perspective evaluates catalysts based on engineered nanomaterials and the next-generation water treatment technologies they seek to enable.
- Brenna C. Hodges
- , Ezra L. Cates
- & Jae-Hong Kim
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Article |
A framework for sustainable nanomaterial selection and design based on performance, hazard, and economic considerations
An adapted framework based on the Ashby material selection strategy can be used to select nanomaterials based on their functional performance and on their environmental and human health considerations.
- Mark M. Falinski
- , Desiree L. Plata
- & Julie B. Zimmerman
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Editorial |
A different view of the environment
Applying a method commonly used in microbiology provides a new way to study the interaction of nanoparticles with environmental samples.
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Editorial |
Joining forces
Risk assessment and life-cycle assessment provide complementary information on the impact of a technology on the environment. We present diverging opinions on how to integrate the two approaches to best evaluate the environmental impact of engineered nanomaterials.
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Commentary |
React now regarding nanomaterial regulation
The time has come to implement a regulatory framework tailored to manufactured materials. I propose a new legislative framework that combines registration, evaluation, authorization and categorization of nanomaterials.
- Steffen Foss Hansen
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Commentary |
Insuring nanotech requires effective risk communication
The absence of nanotechnology-specific insurance policies could be detrimental to the development of the nanotechnology industry. Better communication between insurers and scientists is an essential step to provide a regulatory framework protecting both producers and consumers.
- Finbarr Murphy
- , Martin Mullins
- & Trevor Maynard
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Perspective |
Evaluating nanotechnology opportunities and risks through integration of life-cycle and risk assessment
The advantages and challenges of integrating the methods of life-cycle assessment and risk assessment are discussed in terms of the objectives for evaluating nanotechnologies in a safe and sustainable way.
- Michael P. Tsang
- , Emi Kikuchi-Uehara
- & Masahiko Hirao
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In the Classroom |
Teaching nanosafety
Steffen Foss Hansen and Anders Baun present some of the approaches that they have implemented in their Nanotechnology and the Environment course.
- Steffen Foss Hansen
- & Anders Baun
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News & Views |
Graphene heaters absorb faster
Wrapping polymeric sponges in graphene nanoribbons provides an efficient way to separate and absorb heavy crude oil spilled in water.
- Despina Fragouli
- & Athanassia Athanassiou
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Thesis |
'Safe handling of nanotechnology' ten years on
In 2006, a group of scientists proposed five grand challenges to support the safe handling of nanotechnology. Ten years on, Andrew Maynard and Robert Aitken — two of the original authors — look at where we have come, and where we still need to go.
- Andrew D. Maynard
- & Robert J. Aitken
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Thesis |
Environment matters for all
Nanotechnology-induced risks to the environment are of greater concern than envisaged, although different groups of people are concerned for different reasons, as Chris Toumey explains.
- Chris Toumey
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Thesis |
Navigating the risk landscape
The potential risks surrounding nanotechnology can often appear complex and confusing. But with some basic guideposts, argues Andrew D. Maynard, navigating them can become a little easier.
- Andrew D. Maynard
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Research Highlights |
Our choice from the recent literature
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Thesis |
Navigating the fourth industrial revolution
Andrew D. Maynard considers the challenges of ensuring the responsible development and use of converging technologies.
- Andrew D. Maynard
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Thesis |
Why we need risk innovation
If emerging technologies such as nanotechnology are to reach their full potential we need to radically change our approach to risk, argues Andrew D. Maynard.
- Andrew D. Maynard
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Article |
An environmentally benign antimicrobial nanoparticle based on a silver-infused lignin core
Biodegradable lignin nanoparticles infused with minimal amounts of silver ions and coated with a cationic polyelectrolyte show short-term broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to metallic silver nanoparticles.
- Alexander P. Richter
- , Joseph S. Brown
- & Orlin D. Velev
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Thesis |
Quick lessons on environmental nanotech
The use of silver nanoparticles to clean clothes and the use of magnetite nanoparticles to clean water provide contrasting illustrations of the potential environmental consequences of nanotechnology, as Chris Toumey explains.
- Chris Toumey
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Thesis |
Learning from the past
When it comes to safety, the jury's still out on which nanoparticle characteristics we should be measuring. But, as Andrew D. Maynard explains, there's a rich history dating back over a hundred years on how we measure them.
- Andrew D. Maynard
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Research Highlights |
Our choice from the recent literature
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Correspondence |
Pre-market testing of nanomaterials in food is both practical and necessary
- Jeremy Tager
Microplastic fragmentation by rotifers in aquatic ecosystems contributes to global nanoplastic pollution
Plastic not so fantastic