Environmental benefits and concerns on safety: communicating latest results on nanotechnology safety research-the project DaNa2.0

(Re)Conceptualizing decision-making tools in a risk governance framework for emerging technologies-the case of nanomaterials

The utility of decision-making tools for the risk governance of nanotechnology is at the core of this paper. Those working in nanotechnology risk management have been prolific in creating such tools, many derived from European FP7 and H2020-funded projects. What is less clear is how such tools might assist the overarching ambition of creating a fair system of risk governance. In this paper, we reflect upon the role that tools might and should play in any system of risk governance. With many tools designed for the risk governance of this emerging technology falling into disuse, this paper provides an overview of extant tools and addresses their potential shortcomings. We also posit the need for a data readiness tool. With the EUs NMP13 family of research consortia about to report to the Commission on ways forward in terms of risk governance of this domain, this is a timely intervention on an important element of any risk governance system.

Detection and remediation of pollutants to maintain ecosustainability employing nanotechnology: A review

Environmental deterioration due to anthropogenic activities is a threat to sustainable, clean and green environment. Accumulation of hazardous chemicals pollutes soil, water and air and thus significantly affects all the ecosystems. This article highlight the challenges associated with various conventional techniques such as filtration, absorption, flocculation, coagulation, chromatographic and mass spectroscopic techniques. Environmental nanotechnology has provided an innovative frontier to combat the aforesaid issues of sustainable environment by reducing the non-requisite use of raw materials, electricity, excessive use of agrochemicals and release of industrial effluents into water bodies. Various nanotechnology based approaches including surface enhance scattering, surface plasmon resonance; and distinct types of nanoparticles like silver, silicon oxide and zinc oxide have contributed significantly in detection of environmental pollutants. Biosensing technology has also gained significant attention for detection and remediation of pollutants. Furthermore, nanoparticles of gold, ferric oxide and manganese oxide have been used for the on-site remediation of antibiotics, organic dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals. Recently, green nanomaterials have been given more attention to address toxicity issues of chemically synthesized nanomaterials. Hence, nanotechnology has provided a platform with tremendous applications to have sustainable environment for present as well as future generations. This review article will help to understand the fundamentals for achieving the goals of sustainable development, and healthy environment.

Quality of nanoplastics and microplastics ecotoxicity studies: Refining quality criteria for nanomaterial studies

It is becoming increasingly important to develop assessment criteria for the quality of nanoplastics studies. This study is an attempt to establish such criteria based on those developed for engineered nanomaterials, the GUIDEnano and DaNa criteria being two representatives. These criteria were applied to studies on polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs), which currently represent the majority of studies on nanoplastics. We compiled a list of existing nanomaterial-related criteria that are not fully relevant to PS NPs and propose additional nanoplastic-specific criteria targeting polymer chemical composition, source, production and field collection, impurities/chemical additives, density, hydrophobicity, colour, and chemical leaching. For each criterion, scientific justification is provided. We conclude that the existing study quality assessments originally developed for nano(eco)toxicity studies can, through refinements, be applied to those dealing with nanoplastics studies, with a further outlook on microplastics. The final quality criteria catalogue presented here is intended as a starting point for further elaborations considering different purposes of an assessment.

Could curcumin ameliorate titanium dioxide nanoparticles effect on the heart? A histopathological, immunohistochemical, and genotoxic study

The evaluation of the toxicological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) is increasingly important due to their growing occupational and industrial use. Curcumin is a yellow curry spice with a long history of use in herbal medicine and has numerous protective potentials such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that curcumin could ameliorate TiO₂NP-induced cardiotoxic and genotoxic effects in adult male albino rats. For this purpose, 48 adult male albino rats were randomized into five groups; all treatment was by oral gavage once daily for 90 days: group I (8 rats), untreated control; group II (16 rats), subdivided into vehicle control IIa (8 rats) received saline and vehicle control IIb (8 rats) received corn oil; group III (8 rats) orally gavaged with curcumin dissolved in 0.5 ml corn oil at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w./day; group IV treated with TiO₂NPs at a dose of 1200 mg/kg b.w./day (1/10 LD₅₀) suspended in 1 ml of 0.9% saline; group V treated with curcumin + TiO₂NPs (the same previously mentioned doses). Curcumin was orally gavaged for 7 days before TiO₂NPs treatment was initiated, and then they received TiO₂NPs along with curcumin at the same doses for 90 days. TiO₂NPs administration resulted in several myocardial cytomorphic changes as structurally disorganized, degenerated, and apoptotic cardiomyocytes and the newly implemented 3-nitrotyrosine immune expression rendered strong evidence that these effects derived from the cardio myocellular oxidative burden. Furthermore, comet assay results confirmed TiO₂NP-related DNA damage. Remarkably, all these changes are partially mitigated in rats treated with both curcumin and TiO₂NPs. Our results suggest that concurrent curcumin treatment has a beneficial role in ameliorating TiO₂NP-induced cardiotoxicity and this may be mediated by its antioxidative property.