Since You Asked: Nanotechnology and NIEHS

Questions and Answers about Nanotechnology

What are nanomaterials?

Nanoscale materials are defined as a set of substances where at least one dimension is less than approximately 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter - approximately 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Nanomaterials are of interest because at this scale unique optical, magnetic, electrical, and other properties emerge. These emergent properties have the potential for great impacts in electronics, medicine, and other fields.

Where are nanomaterials found?

Some nanomaterials occur naturally, but of particular interest are engineered nanomaterials (EN), which are designed for, and already being used in many commercial products and processes. They can be found in such things as sunscreens, cosmetics, sporting goods, stain-resistant clothing, tires, electronics, as well as many other everyday items, and are used in medicine for purposes of diagnosis, imaging and drug delivery.

What are some of the main take-home points that the NIEHS and NTP want people to know about nonmaterials?

There are three main take-home points:

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• There is no single type of nanomaterial. Nanoscale materials are a broadly defined set of substances where at least one critical dimension is less than approximately 100 nanometers. Nanoscale materials can in theory be engineered from nearly any chemical substance, and can differ with respect to composition, primary particle size, degree of aggregation or agglomeration, and surface coatings. Semiconductor nanocrystals, nanoscale silver, organic dendrimers, carbon fullerenes and carbon nanotubes are a few of the many examples of the diversity of nanoscale materials.
• The small size of the material makes it both promising and challenging to work with. To researchers, nanomaterials are often seen as a "two-edged sword" - the properties that make nanomaterials potentially beneficial in drug delivery and product development, such as their size, shape, high reactivity and other unique characteristics, are the same properties that cause concern about the nature of their interaction with biological systems and potential effects in the environment.
• Research focused on the potential health effects of manufactured nanoscale materials is being developed, but much is not known yet.

Why is NIEHS involved in nanotechnology?

NIEHS has two primary interests in the field of nanotechnology: harnessing the power of engineered nanomaterials to improve public health, while at the same time understanding the potential risks associated with exposure to the materials. Currently, very little is known about nanoscale materials' effect on human health and the environment. The NIEHS is committed to supporting the development of nanotechnologies that can be used in environmental health research, while also investigating the potential risks these materials pose to human health.

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Research and Training Funded by NIEHS

What role is the NIEHS playing in the area of nanotechnology?

The NIEHS supports grantees across the country working on issues related to natotechnology.

The extramural activities are focused on three main areas:

• The application of nanotechnologies in environmental health research through use of nanomaterials to improve measurements of exposure to other environmental factors, enabling research into the biological effects of exposures, and improving therapeutic strategies to reverse the harmful effects of environmental exposures.
• Understanding the risks associated with accidental or intentional exposure to nanomaterials.
• Through the Superfund Basic Research Program, looking at both the application of nanomaterials for environmental monitoring and remediation, and the health implications associated with their application.

The NIEHS also administers the National Toxicology Program, which is researching the potential human health hazards associated with the manufacture and use of nanomaterials.

What is the NIEHS doing to advance our understanding of the health effects from nanotechnology?

NIEHS is committed to coordinating and supporting research that is focused on understanding basic toxicological effects on organ systems from exposure to nanomaterials. The NIEHS has formed partnerships with other federal agencies to support grantees across the country as part of its Environmental Health and Safety program. For example, the NIEHS has joined with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) over the years to support research strategies addressing environmental health and safety aspects of engineered materials. NIEHS currently funds numerous grants (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/programs/nanohealth/grantees/index.cfm) related to NanoHealth.

Visit the NIEHS NanoHealth and Safety program (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/programs/nanohealth/index.cfm) website for additional information on NIEHS' involvement in the field of nanotechnology.

What is the NIEHS doing to advance the development and application of nanomaterials to be used in environmental health research?

The NIEHS has developed its nanotechnology application program mostly through trans-NIH (http://www.nibib.nih.gov/Research/NIHNano) efforts, including multi-institute bioengineering research opportunities, the NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (http://www.gei.nih.gov/) , and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/programs/sbir/). NIEHS-funded grantees are working to develop nanotechnology-based sensors to detect exposure to toxic pollutants that will help increase our understanding of the biological consequences of exposure, and developing strategies to reduce the toxicity of environmental factors. Several investigator-initiated grants are also being supported. Visit the "Who We Fund (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/portfolio/index.cfm)" site for a complete list of NIEHS-supported grants.

Specifically, how is the Superfund Basic Research Program involved in nanotechnology-related issues?

The Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sbrp/index.cfm) is supporting grantees that are developing new or improved technologies and methods, including the promising field of nanotechnology, to help monitor and remediate, or clean up, around Superfund sites. Nanomaterials offer some distinct advantages to remediation technologies such as large surface-area-to-volume ratio and high chemical reactivity. Superfund researchers are also looking at how nanomaterials behave in the environment as they are used for remediation. For more information specifically related to nanotechnology, visit the SBRP Search (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/sbrp/search/index.cfm) page and enter the search term "nano*",The SBRP is a network of university grants that are designed to seek solutions to the complex health and environmental issues associated with the nation's hazardous waste sites. The research conducted by the SBRP is a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the federal entity charged with cleaning up the worst hazardous waste sites in the country.

The SBRP also collaborates with other agencies to conduct interactive web-based "Risk e Learning" seminars that provide information about innovative treatment and site characterization technologies to the hazardous waste remediation community. Visit the Nanotechnology - Applications and Implications for Superfund (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sbrp/events/riskelearning/nanotechnology.cfm) page for a list of some of the seminars related to nanotechnology.

What is the National Toxicology Program (NTP) doing to assess the health risks associated with nanotechnology?

The National Toxicology Program (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/) is engaged in a broad-based research program to address the potential human health hazards associated with the manufacture and use of nanomaterials.

Scientists at the three core agencies that comprise the NTP - the NIEHS, National Center for Toxicological Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - are working to evaluate the toxicological properties of a representative cross-section of several different classes of nanoscale materials, including (1) metal oxides, (2) fluorescent crystalline semiconductors (quantum dots), (3) carbon fullerenes (buckyballs), and (4) carbon nanotubes, through the NTP Nanotechnology and Safety Initiative (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=7E6B19D0-BDB5-82F8-FAE73011304F542A). Key parameters of greatest concern relative to their potential toxicity are size, shape, surface chemistry and composition. Researchers will use studies in laboratory animals and cells, as well as mathematical models to evaluate and predict where these materials go in the body, and what potential health effects they may cause.

What is the NIEHS doing to help protect workers exposed to nanomaterials?

The NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) supports workers engaged in activities related to hazardous materials, and waste generation, removal, containment, transportation and emergency response. As part of this effort, the National Clearinghouse is the primary national source for hazardous waste worker curricula, technical reports, and weekly news. The Clearinghouse provides a number of safety-related resources (http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=537) in the expanding field of nanotechnology.

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Cross-Agency Nanotechnology Initiatives

What cross-agency initiatives is the NIEHS involved in?

NIEHS is involved in the following cross-agency intiatives:

• The National Nanotechnology Initiative (http://www.nano.gov/) , along with other NIH Institutes.
• The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research Nanomedicine Initiative (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/nanomedicine/index.asp) .
• The NIH Nano Task Force (http://ospp.od.nih.gov/policy/docs/InnovativemedicalResearchattheMolecularScale.pdf)   , along with NTP.

Are nanomaterials regulated?

The NIEHS is not a regulatory agency and, therefore, does not regulate nanomaterials. For regulatory questions, or information on what other federal agencies are doing regarding nanotechnology, please visit the appropriate agency. An abbreviated listing is provided below.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates a wide range of products, including foods, cosmetics, drugs, devices, and veterinary products, some of which may utilize nanotechnology (http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/) or contain nanomaterials.
• At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (http://www.epa.gov/) , many nanomaterials are regarded as "chemical substances" under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This law provides EPA with a strong framework for ensuring that new and existing chemical substances are manufactured and used in a manner that protects against unreasonable risks to human health and the environment.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (http://www.cpsc.gov/) is an independent federal regulatory agency that was created in 1972 by Congress in the Consumer Product Safety Act. In that law, Congress directed the CPSC to "protect the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products."

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New NIEHS Funding Opportunities in Nanotechnology

How can I get funding for my research in nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology and Safety is identified as a signature initiative for the NIEHS, to be supported in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/recovery/).

Some of the new funding opportunities related to ARRA in the nanotechnology area include:

Challenge Grants

NIH has designated at least $200 million in Challenge Grants (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/challenge_award/) to support research on topics that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds.

NIEHS has selected several specific topic areas to support within the NIH Challenge Areas, including nanotechnology and enabling technologies, as follows:

13-ES-101 - Methods to evaluate the health and safety of nanomaterials
Evaluation of the health and safety risks of nanoscale products is critical as nanomaterials are being used in applications as diverse as medical devices, drug delivery, cosmetics and textiles. The development of novel tools and approaches to determine the impact on biological systems and health outcomes of an array of engineered nanomaterials is necessary to protect human health. Biological, physical and chemical characterization of selected nanomaterials will be conducted to aid in setting standards for health and safety, and developing computational models for the prediction of long-term secondary effects.
Contact: Dr. Sri Nadadur (mailto:nadadurs@niehs.nih.gov), (919) 541-5327

06-ES-101 - Measuring the body burden of emerging contaminants: Biosensors and lab "on-chip" technology for measuring in vivo environmental agent
New advances in biosensors and lab-on-chip technology create novel ways to measure the body burden and subclinical health effects of emerging contaminants in the environment in large study populations. Additional research funds would support field testing of the most promising sensors and analysis techniques through collaboration with existing epidemiologic studies, taking advantage of both new and banked tissue specimens.
Contact: Dr. David Balshaw (mailto:balshaw@niehs.nih.gov), (919) 541-2448

06-ES-102 - 3-D or virtual models to reduce use of animals in research: Creation of miniature multi-cellular organs for high throughput screening for chemical toxicity testing
Development of novel micro-scale systems of multiple cell types that replicate the macro-scale structure and function of major organ systems in response to environmental stressors linked with development of computational models of organ system function can accelerate testing of the multitude of chemicals in our environment for toxicity. Research which furthers the generation of 3-D biological models will provide new assays for rapid screening of toxicity in organs such as the lung and liver. Cell types, such as human stem cells, used in these systems would reduce the use of animals and improve our assessment of chemical hazards in the environment.
Contact: Dr. David Balshaw (mailto:balshaw@niehs.nih.gov), (919) 541-2448

Note: Challenge Grant applications are due April 27, 2009.

Grand Opportunities

The purpose of the Research and Research Infrastructure Grand Opportunities (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-004.html) program is to support high-impact ideas that lend themselves to short-term, non-renewable funding, and may lay the foundation for new fields of investigation. The program will support large-scale research projects that accelerate critical breakthroughs, early and applied research on cutting-edge technologies, and new approaches to improve the synergy and interactions among multi- and inter-disciplinary research teams.

The goal of the Grand Opportunity Grant Program in Engineered Nanomaterial Environmental Health and Safety (RC2) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/recovery/nanomaterial-go.cfm) is to develop reliable and reproducible methods and models to assess exposure, exposure metrics, and biological response to nanomaterials. The coordinated research effort will include diverse routes of exposure to nanomaterials and in vitro and in vivo models of exposure and response.

Contact: Dr. Sri Nadadur (mailto:nadadurs@niehs.nih.gov), (919) 541-5327

Note: Grand Opportunity applications are due May 27, 2009.

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Dissemination of Information

• E-Factor Newsletter Story: "Radio In Vivo" Highlights Nanomaterials Research. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2008/may/nano.cfm)
• E-Factor Newsletter Story: "GEMS Marks Quarter Century at Annual Fall Meeting" (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2007/december/gems.cfm)
• Environmental Health Perspectives Article: 'Nanotechnology-Related Environment, Health and Safety Research.' (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2009/117-4/EHP117pa158PDF.PDF)  
• Environmental Health Perspectives Article: Nanoparticles: Health Effects-Pros and Cons. (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/8871/8871.html)
• Environmental Health Perspectives Article: Nanotechnology in the Environmental Health Sciences. (http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2005/113-5/extram-speaking.html)
• Environmental Health Perspectives Article: Nanotechnology: Looking As We Leap. (http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2004/112-13/focus-abs.html)

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Nanotechnology Related Conferences

• NIH NanoWeek (http://www.capconcorp.com/nanoweek2009/default.asp)
  "The Promise of Nanotechnology for Medicine"
  Natcher Conference Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Md.
• Superfund Basic Research Program
  International Conference on the Environmental Implications and Applications of Nanotechnology (http://www.umass.edu/tei/conferences/nanoconference/registration.html)
  University of Massachusetts Amherst
  June 9-11, 2009
• 2009 International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry (http://www.tappi.org/s_tappi/doc_events.asp?CID=11689&DID=561902)
  Westin Edmonton, Canada
  June 23-26, 2009
• Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBio Technology Third Annual NanoBio Symposium (http://inbt.jhu.edu/symposium/registration/)
  Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  May 18, 2009

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Notable Papers and Advances Supported by the NIEHS and NTP in Nanotechnology

• Maynard AD, Aitken RJ, Butz T, Colvin V, Donaldson K, Oberdörster G, Philbert MA, Ryan J, Seaton A, Stone V, Tinkle SS, Tran L, Walker NJ, Warheit DB. Safe handling of nanotechnology. 1: Nature. 2006 Nov 16;444(7117):267-9.
• Nel A, Xia T, Madler L, Li N.2006. Toxic Potential of Materials at the Nanolevel. Science 311:622.
• Yu X, Munge B, Patel V, Jensen G, Bhirde A, Gong JD, Kim SN, Gillespie J, Gutkind JS, Papadimitrakopoulos F, Rusling JF. 2006. Carbon nanotube amplification strategies for highly sensitive immunodetection of cancer biomarkers. J Am Chem Soc. 128(34):11199-11205.

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Additional Resources

• National Nanotechnology Initiative (http://www.nano.gov/)
• FDA Nanotechnology website (http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/)
• EPA's Nanotechnology for Site Remediation Fact Sheet (http://www.epa.gov/tio/download/remed/542-f-08-009.pdf)  
• NIOSH Nanotechnology (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/default.html)
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has published reports on nanotechnology and perceived risk (http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=topics.home&topic_id=166192) .
• US Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (http://www.osha.gov/dsg/nanotechnology/nanotechnology.html)
• The final Report from a meeting co-sponsored by the NTP in 2004 entitled "Developing Experimental Approaches for the Evaluation of Toxicological Interactions of Nanoscale Materials." (http://www.nanotoxicology.ufl.edu/workshop/)

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