By understanding what links exist between the parameters that govern toxicity and the physico-chemical characteristics of the materials themselves, the project hopes to support sustainable development of nanotechnology. In this way, researchers and manufacturers can have a better understanding of particle behavior and work towards the idea of “safer by design” when choosing which nanomaterials to implement into an array of products. Comprising of 28 partners across Europe from the academic and industrial sectors, the NanoMILE project hopes to reduce the uncertainties regarding potential impact of nanomaterials on human and environmental health to help develop regulatory framework.

NanoMILE Expected Output/Impacts

• Correlate specific nanomaterial properties to their aging, transformation, and behavior
• Protocols for nanomaterial synthesis, characterization, and safety assessment
• Relate specific characteristics to impacts, classify materials based on impacts
• Predictive ENP risk assessment according to biological and environmental impacts. Provide guidance for future safer design

Empa's Role

• Lead the work-package: Life Cycle Evolution of Manufactured Nano Materials
• Age nanomaterials; study transformations relevant to product use (e.g. washing nano-enhanced textiles, exposure of nanomaterials to UV/heat, etc.)
• Determine if/which aging processes are likely to make pristine particles more similar or more different after aging. 
• Provide aged particles to other consortium members to compare/contrast (toxicological) changes to pristine materials 

Publications

Mitrano, D.M.; Nowack, B. (2017) The need for a life-cycle based aging paradigm for nanomaterials: Importance of real-world test systems to identify realistic particle transformations. Nanotechnology 28: 072001 pdf

Mitrano, D. M.; Arroyo, Y.; Nowack, B. (2016) Effect of variations of washing solution chemistry on nanomaterial physico-chemical changes in the laundry cycle. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49: 9665-9673. pdf

Mitrano, D. M.; Lombi, E.; Arroyo Rojas Dasilva, Y.; Nowack, B. (2016) Unraveling the Complexity in the Ageing of Nano-Enhanced Textiles: a Comprehensive Sequential Study on the Effect of Sunlight and Washing on Silver Nanoparticles. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50: 5790-5799. pdf

Mitrano, D. M.; Limpiteeprakan, P.; Babel, S.; Nowack, B. (2016) Durability of nano-enhanced textiles through the life cycle: releases from landfilling after washing. Environ. Sci. Nano. 3: 375-387. pdf

Mitrano, D. M.; Motellier, S.; Clavaguera, S.; Nowack, B. (2015) Review of nanomaterial aging and transformations through the life cycle of nano-enhanced products. Environ. Int. 77: 132-147. pdf

Mitrano, D.; Rimmele, E.; Wichser, A.; Erni, R.; Height, M.; Nowack, B. (2014) Presence of nanoparticles in wash water from conventional silver and nano-silver textiles. ACS Nano 8: 7208–7219. pdf