Dual-color core–shell silica nanosystems for advanced super-resolution biomedical imaging
August 25, 2023
Authors: Maria Antonieta Ramirez-Morales, Elisa De Luca, Chiara Coricciati, Alberto Rainer, Giuseppe Gigli, Giuseppe Mele, Pier Paolo Pompa, Maria Ada Malvindi
Fluorescent core–shell silica nanoparticles are largely employed in nanomedicine and life science thanks to the many advantages they offer. Among these, the enhancement of the stability of the fluorescent signal upon fluorophore encapsulation into the silica matrix and the possibility to combine in a single vehicle multiple functionalities, physically separated in different compartments. In this work, we present a new approach to the Stöber method as a two-cycle protocol for the tailored synthesis of dual-color fluorescent core–shell silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) using two commercial dyes as model.
Exploring Adverse Outcome Pathways for Nanomaterials with semantic web technologies
July 3, 2023
Authors: Jeaphianne van Rijn, Marvin Martens , Ammar Ammar , Mihaela-Roxana Cimpan , Valerie Fessard , Peter Hoet , Nina Jeliazkova , Sivakumar Murugadoss , Ivana Vinković Vrček , Egon Willighagen
Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) have been proposed to facilitate mechanistic understanding of interactions of chemicals/materials with biological systems. Each AOP starts with a molecular initiating event (MIE) and possibly ends with adverse outcome(s) (AOs) via a series of key events (KEs). So far, the interaction of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with biomolecules, biomembranes, cells, and biological structures, in general, is not yet fully elucidated yet.
Safe by Design of Nanomaterials in industrial production processes: nanomaterials in the cosmetic field
June 2023
Authors: S Vertuani, E Cesa, M Battistin, P Ziosi and S Manfredini
We designed a new class of optimized sunscreen UV filters by chemically functionalizing ZnO and TiO2 with Oxisol. Our Safe by Design approach presents a new generation of UV filters bonded with booster molecules as the best compromise in conscientious UV protection.
Status, implications and challenges of European safe and sustainable by design paradigms applicable to nanomaterials and advanced materials
February 2, 2023
Authors: Irini Furxhi, Anna Costa, Socorro Vázquez-Campos, Carlos Fito-López, Danail Hristozov, Juan Antonio Tamayo Ramos, Susanne Resch Margherita Cioffi, Steffi Friedrichs, Cris Rocca, Eugenia Valsami-Jones, Iseult Lynch, Sánchez Jiménez Aracelil and Lucian Farcal
Current European (EU) policies envisage safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) practices for the management of chemicals, which cogently entail nanomaterials (NMs) and advanced materials (AdMa). This article is inspired from the answers and opinions shared during a stakeholders meeting arranged throughout the workshop entitled ‘Safe and Sustainable by Design Paradigms applied to NMs and AdMa’ in September 2022.
A Safe-by-Design Approach to “Reef Safe” Sunscreens Based on ZnO and Organic UV Filters
November 9, 2022
Authors: Mattia Battistin, Paolina Pascalicchio, Beatrice Tabaro, Dritan Hasa, Alessandro Bonetto, Stefano Manfredini, Anna Baldisserotto, Alessandro Scarso, Paola Ziosi, Andrea Brunetta, Fabio Brunetta and Silvia Vertuani
In this work, the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxides with different surface areas (30, 25 and 9 m2/g) and their interaction with selected organic sunscreen filters were investigated. In particular, the ZnO photocatalytic kinetics were studied following the photodegradation of Acid Blue 9 (AB9) observing a first-order reaction with a chemical regime.
European Registry of Materials: global, unique identifiers for (undisclosed) nanomaterials
August 24, 2022
Authors: Jeaphianne van Rijn, Antreas Afantitis, Mustafa Culha, Maria Dusinska, Thomas E. Exner, Nina Jeliazkova, Eleonora Marta Longhin, Iseult Lynch, Georgia Melagraki, Penny Nymark, Anastasios G. Papadiamantis, David A. Winkler, Hulya Yilmaz, Egon Willighagen
A new identifier is proposed: the European Registry of Materials Identifier - We here describe the background to this new identifier and show how it complements other identifiers such as CAS numbers and the ongoing efforts to extend the InChI identifier to cover nanomaterials. We provide examples of its use in various H2020-funded nanosafety projects.
Analysing the TiO2 surface reactivity based on oxygen vacancies computed by DFT and DFTB methods
June 13, 2022
Authors: Yarkın Aybars, Benjamí Martorell, Francesc Serratosa, Neus Aguilera-Porta, Monica Calatayud
Recently titania has been banned as a food additive due to its (nano)toxicity, and the release of reactive oxygen species plays a crucial role in many toxicological mechanisms. In the present work, we compute a set of chemical descriptors for selected surfaces of anatase and rutile TiO2. The aim is twofold: we want to provide chemically meaningful information on the surface reactivity, and benchmark the descriptors for two ab initio schemes.
Criticisms in the Development of High-Protection and Broad-Spectrum “Natural/Organic” Certifiable Sunscreen
May 31, 2022
Authors: Guido Tortini, Paola Ziosi, Elena Cesa, Sonia Molesini, Erika Baldini, Daniela De Lucia, Elisa Durini, Caterina Rossi, Silvia Vertuani, Stefano Manfredini
Due to the proven or believed ecotoxicity of organic ultraviolet (UV) filters developers of sunscreens have been pushed towards the use of inorganic filters, which can prove difficult to spread with low compliance. We faced the problem by proposing a rational approach based on the evaluation of the morphology of the inorganic material.
Visible-Light Active Sulfur-Doped Titania Nanoparticles Immobilized on a Silica Matrix: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants
September 28, 2021
Authors: Theodora Kalampaliki, Sofia P. Makri, Evanthia Papadaki, Alexios Grigoropoulos, Alexandros Zoikis Karathanasis and Ioanna Deligkiozi
In this work, a series of sulfur-doped TiO2 NPs immobilized on a silica matrix were synthesized by combining a sol-gel process with ball milling. Our results show that sulfur is an effective dopant for activating TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts under visible-light irradiation.
International Network Initiative on Safe and Sustainable Nanotechnologies (INISS-nano)
June 21, 2021
Authors: Favre, Georges; Beitollahi, Ali; Bañares, Miguel A.; Friedrichs, Steffi; Hristozov, Danail; Indaraprasirt, Ramjitti; Aungkavattana, Pavadee; Thongkam, Waluree; Farias, Patricia M.A.; Hunt, Neil; Adholeya, Alok; Khandelwal, Neha; Marjovi, Ali; Malsch, Ineke; Franzese, Giancarlo; Karim, Md. E.; Doridot, Fernand; Tsuruoka, Shuji; Bochon, Anthony; Wilkens, Terence A.
This concept paper shall prepare the ecosystem for global collaboration in selected fields of action (see pillars), enabling “collaboration without borders” within joint projects, joint funding initiatives, and any further way of cooperation.