Nanotechnology

1
Nanotechnology the EnvironmentEco-Responsible
Design
Dr. Vicki Colvin Director, CBEN Professor of
Chemistry Rice University
2
History of CBEN
EcoResponsible Design
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Conception of CBEN
From WOW to Yuck?
Safety by Design
Labels DO matter need to bridge technology and
toxicology
3
The Combinatorial Problem
Are single-walled carbon nanotubes toxic?
Basic structure-function relationships for
nanomaterials and biological impacts are necessary
4
Structure-Function for Biological Impacts
Fundamental Nanostructure

• Size
• Composition
• Surface

Chemical Physical Properties
Case study 1 Titania nanostructures
composition
Case study 2 Quantum Dots bioavailability of
Cd
Case study 3 Carbon Nanostructures -
hydrophobicity
2
1
5
Challenge 1 Reference Materials
6
Challenge 2 Nano-Envi Complex
7
Challenge 3 In-Vivo Detection

• Optical tracking best for less relevant materials
• Tissue analysis doesnt give adequate dynamics
• Little ability to measure any nanomaterial

8
Challenge 3 Whats Out There?
99 of sunscreens with inorganic ingredients
contained nanoparticles
9
Eco-Responsible Design Products?
50 of the derived sunscreen pigments have
comparable photoactivity to P25
More than 50 of the sunscreens on the market do
not use coated titania
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Eco-Responsible Design

• Performance of nanotechnology is not sacrificed
  by strategies for minimizing impact
• Focus on the nano-environmental complex
• Simple ex-vivo tests as indicators for
  established hot spots for risk

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Eco-Responsible DisposalWaste Management of
Nanomaterials Throughout Lifecycle

• Joseph B. Hughes, Ph.D., P.E., DEE
• Georgia Tech

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C60 Bioaccumulation in Daphnia
Gestating Newborns
Mother Daphnia
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nC60 Uptake (A) and Retention studies (B)
B
A
14

• END

15
One Example Quantum Dots
6000 PEG QDs
750 PEG QDs
PMAO QDs

• Extracellular exposures varied intracellular
  exposure constant
• Bare QDin QDout 5.4
• 750 PEG QDin QDout 1.2
• 6000 PEG QDin QDout .89
• Acute cytotoxicity is statistically
  indistinguishable
• Cell uptake models are possible

Chang, Colvin, Drezek et al Small 2006 Lewinski,
Colvin Drezek, Small 2007