The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) is looking for topics that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. 

If you have a proposal for a specific study topic that fills an information gap relevant to nanomaterials on the EU market, EUON may be able to carry it out. Submit your proposal by 27 April 2023 and contribute to the work of the EUON.

In his guest column, Professor Jenő Gubicza explains how to monitor the crystal defect structure in nanomaterials using a non-destructive experimental technique.

“X-ray line profile analysis (XLPA) is a very effective indirect method for the characterisation of the nanocrystalline microstructure. XLPA analyses the diffraction peak shape and yields the crystallite size distribution and the type and density of crystal defects with good statistics and in a non-destructive way.”

Read the lastest nanopinion from Dr Dmitry Kireev where he shares information about the usefulness of graphene tattoos.

“Graphene Electronic Tattoos (GETs) are a type of skin-wearable electronic device that can be used for personalized healthcare by transmitting the bio-electrical activity of the human body in measurable electrical signal. [..] The GETs are optically transparent, lightweight, and flexible, making them adhere and conform to the micro-curvature of the skin [..]."

The nanotechnology knowledge base NanoData has been updated with new market data. Two new nanotechnology sectors – Agriculture and Consumer products (with subsectors Textiles and Cosmetics) have been added to the existing ones. 

ECHA has published two new ex-ante publicity notices for two service contracts.

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has released an updated appendix for nanomaterials, which provides guidance on how to obtain data under the new information requirements for nanoforms. This includes information on how to perform environmental testing and advice on preparation methods and testing strategies for physico-chemical testing of nanoforms.

Dr Anastasios Papadiamantis and Dr Antreas Afantitis tell us about the findings of a study commissioned by the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials on the EU market for nanomaterials, including substances, uses, volumes and key operators. Read all about it in our Nanopinion guest column.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr Araceli Sánchez on why it is essential to set up legally binding occupational exposure limits for nanomaterials and the challenges that come with this.

“Considering scientific evidence on the size-related effects of nano particles on causing adverse human health effects, in addition to the specific limits for each type of engineered nanomaterial, setting up a legally binding occupational exposure limit for the total number of particles regardless of their origin seems a logical step to protect workers’ health.”

A desk study commissioned by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) provides information on the state-of-the-art, the existing gaps, and the research needs of the degradation, biodegradation and persistence of nanomaterials. The study also points out the need for a common definition for ‘safe’ or ‘safer-by-design’ – the process of including safety at the earliest stage of product development – to increase the societal acceptance of nanomaterials.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has published a study that has systematically reviewed and critically assessed the potential health and environmental effects of graphene, graphene oxide, and other two-dimensional (2D) materials, based on existing public information of the last ten years.

On 23 November 2022, in its judgment in joined cases T-279/20, T-283/20 and T-288/20, the General Court considered that the Commission made a manifest error in its assessment of the reliability and acceptability of the study on which the classification was based. It also found that the Commission infringed the criterion according to which that classification can relate only to a substance that has the intrinsic property to cause cancer.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column by Dr. Joanna Dziadkowiec and Prof. Markus Valtiner on how unique properties of nanomaterials could be used to preserve historic buildings.

The latest study by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) predicts growth in the European nanomaterial market over the period of 2021 - 2025. The study provides a list of nanomaterials currently on the market and identifies key market operators. 

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Sesha Manuguri, PhD, on how to use the knowledge obtained from the processes in nature to create smart materials that can dynamically change colours in response to environmental stimuli.

The Nano Technology Knowledge Base (NanoData) is available on the EUON website since June 2022. During the transition period all users visiting the old NanoData website were automatically redirected to the new one. However, such automatic redirection is no longer available.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Eugenia Valsami-Jones on how nanomaterials may bypass the blood-brain-barrier and gain access to the brain. The knowledge acquired can help make the use of nanomaterials safer by ensuring that properties that facilitate crossing of the BBB are designed out of products that could come to direct contact with our bodies.

Nanomaterials are used across almost all industrial sectors to add specific properties to many products, including cosmetics. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, for example, are used as UV filters in sunscreen which can help to protect you from skin damage caused by the Sun’s rays.

Now users can benefit from the new content that has just been added to the EUON website. You can find information on new topics at EUON in the “Uses” section (e.g., energy, nanomaterials in sunscreens) and in the “Safety” section (toxicity or environmental fate, among others). Below you can find the new pages that have been translated and are available in all 23 official EU languages.

The update to the Appendix for nanoforms applicable to the Guidance on Registration and Substance Identification (version 2.0) published by ECHA is now available in 23 official EU languages.

The deadline to receive study proposals for the EUON has been extended.

The new submission deadline is 1 August.

The guest contributions on the EUON website will be paused in the period between July and August. Nanopinions will be back in September with new and interesting topics covering different areas of nanomaterials.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Vladimir Murashov, Ph.D. and John Howard, M.D. on various models that have been developed to characterise exposure to manufactured nanomaterials, the existing challenges in their application and the proposed solutions.

NanoData website, a searchable database at the EUON, was recently relaunched with an improved look and feel. Now users can benefit from an additional feature which allows them to download data on nanomaterials in different products, research projects, publications, patents and organisations in bulk.

Is there a topic or field related to nanomaterials that you think could benefit from more research? Let us know! The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) is now looking for topics that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. The EUON conducts up to three studies annually to address knowledge gaps on nanomaterials.

The European Commission has updated, as of 10 June 2022, the Recommendation 2011/696/EU on the definition of nanomaterial, that supports a coherent EU regulatory framework for nanomaterials.

NanoData is the knowledge base on nanosciences and -technology hosted by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON). It contains data on different products, research projects, publications, patents and organisations. We have given NanoData a new look and feel to improve the user experience. You can now visualise statistics quickly through built-in charts and graphs. The data can be easily filtered by different sectors and geographic locations. Users will be able to benefit from a bulk download feature at a later date.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Yasui Takao on using nanowire devices to extract microRNAs from urine to distinguish cancer patients from healthy individuals and improve the early detection of cancer.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Anita Jemec Kokalj and Dr. Dana Kühnel about defining the criteria to evaluate which properties of nanoplastics should be reported in future studies to decrease uncertainties in the risk assessment of nanoplastics.

ECHA has published an update to the Appendix for nanoforms applicable to the Guidance on Registration and Substance Identification (v.2.0).

The main changes include additional guidance on the joint submission of data, clarifications regarding the need for one dataset per nanoform/set of nanoforms and information on the registration of sets of nanoforms versus single nanoforms.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Alberto Bianco, Dr. Maurizio Prato and Dr. Kostas Kostarelos, from Graphene Flagship, about graphene and why it’s not the same as carbon nanotubes.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Eugenia Valsami-Jones about ACEnano, a Horizon2020 project which has recently completed its 4.5-year course. The main goal of the project was to strengthen clarity into nanomaterial risk assessment by a tiered approach to nanomaterials physiochemical characterisation. 

A new report shows that limited data is available on the amount of waste streams containing nanomaterials in the EU. However, despite this, existing public data on waste is highly valuable for waste managers, scientists, regulatory bodies, and potentially consumers.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Michael Riediker about nanomaterials at the workplace. Curiosities a few years ago, nanomaterials are now part of our lives. When talking about the workplace, protective measures and guidance are needed.

Read the latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Daniel Ruiz-Molina about a novel nanotechnological encapsulation approach to deliver dopamine to the brain. The delivery could be used to treat Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by a deficit of dopamine due to the death of the neurons responsible for its production.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Frank Le Curieux, Scientific Area Leader for Genotoxicity at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Our author presents the ECHA Nanomaterials Expert Group (NMEG) by writing about its creation and history, its organisation, its main tasks and its future after 2021.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Chiara Venturini, Director General at Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), who talks about the lack of precision with the word “nanomaterials” and the need to have a more detailed language when talking about them.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as part of the activities of the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), have launched a stakeholder survey on the substances available as nanomaterials in the EU market. Survey is conducted by the NovaMechanics Ltd.

The European Commission is working on a review process of its Recommendation 2011/696/EU on the definition of nanomaterial. As part of this process, the Commission is now launching an online targeted stakeholder consultation.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Fazel A. Monikh, who talks about the importance of understanding the behaviour of nanomaterials in organisms’ tissues and bodies

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from various authors from BASF and ECETOC, who talk about ways to assess the safety of nanomaterials while minimising animal testing

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr Monita Sharma and Dr Andreas Stucki from Peta International Science Consortium Ltd. (PISC) who talk about alternatives to animal testing for nanomaterials.

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Professor Andrew Nelson, Project Coordinator of the EU funded HISENTS project who talks about an experimental screening platform that mimics a living organism. The nearest thing to a “human-on-a-chip”.

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr Dorota Napierska, Health Care Without Harm Europe who talks about the benefits and risks of using nanosilver as an antimicrobial agent in clinical settings.