Latest Nanotoxicology Stories
Scientists have now revealed how nanoparticles can cause lung damage. In the same research, they reported successfully being able to block the cancer-causing mechanism.Nanotechnology is a growing sector of research that involves the control of atoms and molecules to create new materials, including many that could have medical applications. Nanotechnology, as an industry, is expected to gain an annual market of about $1 trillion by 2015, researchers said in the June 11 issue of the Journal of...
Scientists counteract nanoparticle lung damage in miceScientists have identified for the first time a mechanism by which nanoparticles cause lung damage and have demonstrated that it can be combated by blocking the process involved, taking a step toward addressing the growing concerns over the safety of nanotechnology.Nanotechnology, the science of the extremely tiny (one nanometre is one-billionth of a metre), is an important emerging industry with a projected annual market of around one...
Using aquatic microbes as their "canary-in-a-cage," scientists from Ohio today reported that nanoparticles now being added to cosmetics, sunscreens, and hundreds of other personal care products may be harmful to the environment.Their report was part of symposia that included almost two dozen papers at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society where scientists grappled to understand the environmental and human health effects of nanotechnology. Hundreds of products...
Owing to the novel properties of carbon nanotubes (CBNs), a series of problems associated with in vitro toxicity assessments of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have appeared in many literatures. In order to properly evaluate the potential risk to human health, the cell toxicity assay of CBNs can not be conducted by traditional methods employed in common toxicology.Ying Zhu and Wenxin Li in Laboratory of Nano-biology and Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Shanghai, P. R.China gave this...
University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed the first natural, nontoxic method for biodegrading carbon nanotubes, a finding that could help diminish the environmental and health concerns that mar the otherwise bright prospects of the super-strong materials commonly used in products, from electronics to plastics.A Pitt research team has found that carbon nanotubes deteriorate when exposed to the natural enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP), according to a report published recently in...
By Valenzuela, Stella Cortie, Michael Gold nanoparticles can target and kill the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, opening the way for a new treatment for parasitic infections in humans. Over the ages, people worldwide have revered gold as a precious metal, with its uses being many and varied. In cultures where the Sun was worshiped as a deity, gold was viewed as its representative form on Earth. It has also commonly been used for decorative purposes in art, food and jewellery. Other uses include...
By Allison M Heinrichs Potential ecological hazards of nanoparticles will be explored by a $14.4 million partnership between Carnegie Mellon and Duke universities, officials said today. The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the grant to establish the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. Nanoparticles are a million times smaller than the head of a pin and can act differently than larger objects made of the same material....
U.S. scientists say they've discovered quantum dot nanoparticles can penetrate skin if there's an abrasion, raising new nanotechnology safety concerns. North Carolina State University researchers said the finding provides insight into potential workplace concerns for healthcare workers or individuals involved in the manufacturing of quantum dots or doing research on potential biomedical applications of the tiny nanoparticles. While the study shows that quantum dots of different sizes,...
New study shows inhaling long, thin carbon nanotubes may result in asbestos-related diseaseA major study published today in Nature Nanotechnology suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes "“ a poster child for the "nanotechnology revolution" "“ could be as harmful as asbestos if inhaled in sufficient quantities.The study used established methods to see if specific types of nanotubes have the potential to cause mesothelioma "” a cancer of the lung lining that can take 30-40 years to appear...
By Nohynek, Gerhard J; Lademann, Jrgen; Ribaud, Christele; Roberts, Michael S Many modern cosmetic or sunscreen products contain nano-sized components. Nanoemulsions are transparent and have unique tactile and texture properties; nanocapsule, nanosome, noisome, or liposome formulations contain small vesicles (range: 50 to 5000 nm) consisting of traditional cosmetic materials that protect light- or oxygen-sensitive cosmetic ingredients. Transdermal delivery and cosmetic research suggests that...
