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H2020Individual fellowship2015–2017

SOS-Nano · Structure – Oxidative Stress relationships of metal oxide nanoparticles in the aquatic environment

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2015-11-01 → 2017-10-31
EU contribution
€183,455
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST

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Results in brief

Structure – Oxidative Stress relationships of metal oxide nanoparticles in the aquatic environment

The SOS-Nano project addressed one of the most pressing cutting-edge issues of econanotoxicology: to find a structural property of nanoparticles (NPs) to predict their potential toxicity in marine aquatic environments. By using an in vivo exposure system, the SOS-Nano project tested the suitability of two paradigms for ranking the hazard of metal oxide NPs: 1) NPs physical-electrochemical properties (i.e. bandgap energy and dissolution) for predicting oxidative stress potential, and 2) oxidative stress generation for predicting biological impact. The specific goals during the project to reach the main objective were: • To screen the validity of Bandgap-Dissolution Paradigms over a set of model- metal oxide NPs; • To assess the influence of natural organic matter (NOM) on the potential for metal oxide NPs to promote oxidative stress in aquatic environments; • To explore the influence of salinity on the potential for metal oxide NPs to generate oxidative stress in aquatic environments. • To estimate the longer-term hazard of metal oxide NPs in aquatic environment under realistic scenarios. The results obtained by SOS-Nano are of high impact for the European Union policy and the overall society. Nanotechnology is one of the six EU Key Enabling Technologies selected by the EU Commission to address the industrial-economic competitiveness and the grand societal challenges in Europe by 2020. The SOS-Nano results add important new information to enable the establishment of a suitable risk assessment of these nanomaterials in the natural environment.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The SOS-Nano project will address one of the most pressing cutting edge issues of econanotoxicology at present: to find a structural property of nanoparticles (NPs) to predict their potential toxicity in real aquatic environments, the final sink of released NPs. By using an in vivo natural water exposure system, SOS-Nano will test the suitability of two paradigms, recently demonstrated effective in vitro for ranking the hazard of metal oxide NPs: 1) NPs physical-electrochemical properties for predicting oxidative stress potential, and 2) oxidative stress generation for predicting biological impact. The experimental plan of SOS-Nano is totally innovative for design and methodology: the relationships between NPs structure and toxic activity will be studied under the influence of natural water properties, and the toxic potential will be ranked through a multi-tier system combining genomics and functional measurements.The science of SOS-Nano will have high impact: nanotechnology is one of the six EU Key Enabling Technologies selected by the EU Commission to address the industrial-economic competitiveness and the grand societal challenges in Europe by 2020 (US$ 2.5 trillion of world market, 2 million of employers by 2015). The lack of a sound human and environmental risk assessment of NPs is now the major limitation to the safe growth of this economic sector, and the EU research community is tasked with addressing the nanotechnologies development toward sustainability. The SOS-Nano project will represent the perfect opportunity for the applicant to join a cutting edge working environment in which she will realise her potential as a leading nanosafety expert in EU. The host Institution, the University of Exeter, is in the top 10 UK Universities which will provide exciting opportunities for gaining interdisciplinary experience of novel approaches in ecotoxicology and for networking with industry and international partners at the forefront of environmental nanoscience.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

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Data: CORDIS, © European Union