Protein Film Removal by Means of Low-Pressure Microwave Plasma - An Imaging Ellipsometry Study

Non-equilibrium plasma discharges have been recently proposed to be an effective tool for the removal of proteinaceous residuals from heat-degradable medical instruments. However, the knowledge regarding plasma-protein interactions is still relatively poor, which is a serious drawback for the validation of this technique as well as for its optimisation. This is, among other reasons, caused by the limitations of currently used techniques for monitoring of the rates of protein removal during plasma treatment. The objective of this article is to present an alternative method of evaluation of protein removal, based on imaging ellipsometry, which allows fast and semiquantitative analysis of the treatment efficiency.JRC.I.4-Nanotechnology and Molecular Imagin

Sedimentation of Nanoparticles in in vitro Toxicity Assays

Attached extended abstract published in the conference proceedingsJRC.DG.I.5-Nanobioscience

Advanced materials foresight: research and innovation indicators related to advanced and smart nanomaterials

Background: Advanced materials are most likely to bring future economic, environmental and social benefits. At the same time, they may pose challenges regarding their safety and sustainability along the entire lifecycle. This needs to be timely addressed by the stakeholders (industry, research, policy, funding and regulatory bodies). As part of a larger foresight project, this study aimed to identify areas of scientific research and technological development related to advanced materials, in particular advanced nanomaterials and the sub-group of smart nanomaterials. The study identified and collected data to build relevant research and innovation indicators and analyse trends, impact and other implications. Methods: This study consisted of an iterative process including a documentation phase followed by the identification, description and development of a set of core research and innovation indicators regarding scientific publications, EU projects and patents. The data was extracted mainly from SCOPUS, CORDIS and PATSTAT databases using a predefined search string that included representative keywords. The trends, distributions and other aspects reflected in the final version of the indicators were analysed, e.g. the number of items in a period of time, geographical distribution, organisations involved, categories of journals, funding programmes, costs and technology areas. Results: Generally, for smart nanomaterials the data used represent around 3.5% of the advanced nanomaterials data, while for each field analysed, they represent 4.4% for publications, 13% for projects and 1.1% for patents. The study shows current trends for advanced nanomaterials at a top-level information that can be further extended with sub-indicators. Generally, the results indicated a significant growth in research into advanced nanomaterials, including smart nanomaterials, in the last decade, leading to an increased availability of information. Conclusion: These indicators identify trends regarding scientific and technological achievements and represent an important element when examining possible impacts on society and policy implications associated to these areas

Low Surface Energy Fluorocarbon Coatings Via Plasma Polymerization Process: Process Optimization and Protein Repellent Study

In the present study, low surface energy perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDA) coatings and their copolymer coatings with diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME) (i.e. PFDA-co-DEGDME) have been deposited through plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) onto thermanox coverslips in a low pressure tubular inductively coupled RF plasma reactor. The influence of plasma parameters on surface chemical properties of the coatings were investigated by using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle (WCA). The protein repellent properties of the plasma polymer coatings have been investigated using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM).JRC.DG.I.5-Nanobioscience

Considerations on a Definition of Nanomaterial for Regulatory Purposes

The recent EU Cosmetic Products Regulation includes a labelling obligation for nanomaterials in the list of ingredients, in order to allow consumers to make a choice. Similar provisions are now being considered for other regulations/directives, e.g. the Novel Foods Regulation. Also the European chemicals legislation REACH may need adjustments to address and control the potential risk of nanomaterials. The introduction of these provisions specific to nanomaterials requires the adoption of a definition of the term "nanomaterial". This need is also acknowledged by the European Parliament which has called for a comprehensive science-based definition in Community legislation. This report reviews and discusses issues and challenges related to a definition of "nanomaterial". It gives a short overview about what may be considered as nanomaterials, their novel properties and applications. The need for a definition of nanomaterial is discussed, and the question of what should be achieved by a definition is addressed. The report gives an overview of definitions by international, national and European institutions, and lists approaches used in European legislation. It summarises the advantages and shortcomings of different elements typically used in available definitions, regarding their applicability in a regulatory context. The following three key elements are identified as being crucial in achieving a single, enforceable definition of nanomaterial: (i) the term "material", (ii) the nanoscale, and (iii) specific nanoscale properties. Material and nanoscale should both preferably be defined precisely in order to ease enforceability. This implies the introduction of precise nanoscale limits and instructions on how such limits can be applied to nanoscale materials with size distributions. Size-derived properties, nanostructured features, nanoscale materials incorporated in a matrix and the origin of the material are also issues to be considered. Key words: nanomaterial, definition, nanoscale, physico-chemical properties, Cosmetic Products Regulation, REACH.JRC.DG.I.5-Nanobioscience

Advanced materials foresight: research and innovation indicators related to advanced and smart nanomaterials [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background: Advanced materials are most likely to bring future economic, environmental and social benefits. At the same time, they may pose challenges regarding their safety and sustainability along the entire lifecycle. This needs to be timely addressed by the stakeholders (industry, research, policy, funding and regulatory bodies). As part of a larger foresight project, this study aimed to identify areas of scientific research and technological development related to advanced materials, in particular advanced nanomaterials and the sub-group of smart nanomaterials. The study identified and collected data to build relevant research and innovation indicators and analyse trends, impact and other implications. Methods: This study consisted of an iterative process including a documentation phase followed by the identification, description and development of a set of core research and innovation indicators regarding scientific publications, EU projects and patents. The data was extracted mainly from SCOPUS, CORDIS and PATSTAT databases using a predefined search string that included representative keywords. The trends, distributions and other aspects reflected in the final version of the indicators were analysed, e.g. the number of items in a period of time, geographical distribution, organisations involved, categories of journals, funding programmes, costs and technology areas. Results: Generally, for smart nanomaterials the data used represent around 3.5% of the advanced nanomaterials data, while for each field analysed, they represent 4.4% for publications, 13% for projects and 1.1% for patents. The study shows current trends for advanced nanomaterials at a top-level information that can be further extended with sub-indicators. Generally, the results indicated a significant growth in research into advanced nanomaterials, including smart nanomaterials, in the last decade, leading to an increased availability of information. Conclusion: These indicators identify trends regarding scientific and technological achievements and represent an important element when examining possible impacts on society and policy implications associated to these areas

Safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials. Framework for the definition of criteria and evaluation procedure for chemicals and materials

The EU CSS action plan foresees the development of a framework to define safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) criteria for chemicals and materials. The SSbD is an approach to support the design, development, production and use of chemicals and materials that focuses on providing a desirable function (or service), while avoiding or minimising harmful impacts to human health and the environment. The SSbD concept integrates aspects for the domain of safety, circularity and functionality of chemicals and materials, with sustainability consideration throughout their lifecycle, minimising their environmental footprint. SSbD aims at facilitating the industrial transition towards a safe, zero pollution, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy, addressing adverse effects on humans, ecosystems and biodiversity from a lifecycle perspective. To fulfil these ambitions, there is the need to develop a new framework for the definition of safe and sustainable by design criteria for chemicals and materials. To do so, several frameworks were reviewed including initiatives from research, industry, governmental agencies and NGOs. Capitalising on this information, a framework was developed and is presented in this report including a methodology for the definition of possible SSbD criteria and implementation mechanisms

Physico-chemical properties of manufactured nanomaterials - Characterisation and relevant methods. An outlook based on the OECD Testing Programme.

Identifying and characterising nanomaterials require additional information on physico-chemical properties and test methods, compared to chemicals in general. Furthermore, regulatory decisions for chemicals are usually based upon certain toxicological properties, and these effects may not be equivalent to those for nanomaterials. However, regulatory agencies lack an authoritative decision framework for nanomaterials that links the relevance of certain physico-chemical endpoints to toxicological effects. This paper investigates various physico-chemical endpoints and available test methods that could be used to produce such a decision framework for nanomaterials. It presents an overview of regulatory relevance and methods used for testing fifteen proposed physico-chemical properties of eleven nanomaterials in the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials' Testing Programme, complemented with methods from literature, and assesses the methods' adequacy and applications limits. Most endpoints are of regulatory relevance, though the specific parameters depend on the nanomaterial and type of assessment. Size (distribution) is the common characteristic of all nanomaterials and is decisive information for classifying a material as a nanomaterial. Shape is an important particle descriptor. The octanol-water partitioning coefficient is undefined for particulate nanomaterials. Methods, including sample preparation, need to be further standardised, and some new methods are needed. The current work of OECD's Test Guidelines Programme regarding physico-chemical properties is highlighted

Towards a review of the EC Recommendation for a definition of the term "nanomaterial": Part 3: Scientific-technical evaluation of options to clarify the definition and to facilitate its implementation

This report provides the JRC's scientific-technical evaluation of options to clarify the EC Recommendation on a definition of nanomaterial, published in 2011 (EC Recommendation 2011/696/EU). It is a follow-up report of two previous JRC publications, which compiled feedback on the experiences of stakeholders with the EC nanomaterial definition collected by JRC in 2013 and early 2014 (EUR 26567 EN, 2014), and provided an assessment of the collected information (EUR 26744 EN, 2014). The three JRC reports are part of the review process foreseen in the 2011 EC Recommendation. The evaluation shows that the scope of the definition regarding the origin of nanomaterials should remain unchanged, addressing natural, incidental as well as manufactured nanomaterials. Moreover, because of the regulatory purpose of the definition, there is little evidence to support deviating from size as the sole defining property of a nanoparticle or from the range of 1 nm to 100 nm as definition of the nanoscale. Besides the need for clarification of some terms used in the definition additional implementation guidance would be useful. The role of the volume specific surface area deserves clarification and a method to prove that a material is not a nanomaterial would be helpful. A strategy how to avoid unintended inclusion of materials and the list of explicitly included materials deserve also attention.JRC.I.4-Nanobioscience

An overview of concepts and terms used in the European Commission's definition of nanomaterial

This report supports the implementation of the European Commission’s Recommendation on a definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU). It addresses its key concepts and terms and discusses them in a regulatory context. Corresponding to the broad scope of the definition the considerations in this report can be applied across all relevant legislative areas; they are not specific to any particular piece of legislation. The report provides recommendations for a harmonised and coherent implementation of the nanomaterial definition in any specific regulatory context at European Union and national level.JRC.F.2-Consumer Products Safet