As the nanotechnology industry develops and expands, a UCLA
research group is urging caution and calling for increased research
into the potential dangers of nanoparticles.
Nanotechnology involves using atoms to produce tiny molecules,
smaller than one-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. The term
“nano” refers to a nanometer, which is one-billionth of
a meter.
“Nanomaterials can be used in a whole bunch of useful
products and laboratory techniques. There needs to be research into
the safety to humans and environment, however. We want to make sure
new exciting products do not extrapolate into health
problems,” said Andre Nel, professor of medicine at
UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute.
In the Feb. 3 issue of the Journal of Science, Nel published the
Institute’s proposal for measuring the toxicity of
nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles are the minuscule products and materials used in
many everyday objects, which provide researchers with new tools to
evaluate and explore the tiny world of cells.
At this size, the engineered materials exhibit unconventional
physical and chemical properties that allow researchers to explore
the areas of electronics, optics, sensoring, material strength,
catalysis and drug delivery.
Complementing Nel’s article, the California NanoSystems
Institute also offered a seminar Tuesday on “nanoimprint
technology for nanomechanics, electronics and life sciences
applications.” Lars Montelius, a researcher from the Lund
University in Sweden, explained how his lab has used nanomaterials
in a wide range of areas.
Montelius’ lab has used nanowires to research optics and
visualize the structures and interactions between nanomaterials and
biological systems, as well as engineered materials for surfaces to
guide neural cell growth through experimentally altered
nanowires.
While these new materials have and will continue to affect
research, Nel looks to protect the future of the nanotechnology
industry.
“This is amazing new technology and will change every
aspect of life. As we develop new products the public needs to
know, one, why these are better than products available before, and
two, that they do not pose undue risk. For the industry to succeed,
the public needs to perceive the technology as safe,” Nel
said.
In Nel’s article, research demonstrates that cells have a
step reaction ““ cells react with increasing severity to
rising levels of nanoparticles in the air.
“We studied the oxidative stresses, the materials’
ability to oxidize and do damage to the cell or DNA of
nanoparticles from the air,” said research assistant Tian
Xia.
At low doses, the cells’ natural ability to retain
oxidative equilibrium can overcome the pollutants’
damage.
“(But) at highest doses, the cell will die,” Xia
said.
Nel said there is no existing system to measure the toxicity of
nanomaterials, but his techniques can be used to measure damage
done by the oxidative properties of the nanoparticles.
“Nanotechnology advocates may have 1,000 reasons why it is
good for the future, but they need to be cautious until they know
the safety issues for humans and the environments. Our article
should complement the seminar series. We hope to help the industry
to move forward,” Xia said.