Research Teams
NanoReTox is an international, integrated, interdisciplinary, strategic program, addressing the environmental and human implications of exposure to engineered nanoparticles. Our overall strategy is to apply a highly multi-disciplinary approach to a focused set of scientific questions. Our team is uniquely qualified across the necessary disciplines and committed to working and communicating in close collaboration to achieve an optimum outcome.
Synthesis, characterisation and reactivity group
The main objective of the Synthesis Group is to produce sets of well-characterised nanoparticles with properties that vary systematically, so that robust links to toxicity can be made. Also, samples will be tested in both powder and suspension forms.
In vitro toxicity studies
The main objective of the Ecotoxicology Group is to determine if engineered nanoparticles are available for uptake by whole organisms and if the nature of the particle and/or the biological trait of the organism affect that uptake. Also, the stress responses of selected aquatic species to nanoparticles accumulation will be investigated.
In vivo toxicity studies
The important challenge for the Toxicology Group was to set-up protocols to harmonize the data generation for future possible comparison between different studies. CuO was used by partners for preliminary experiments to fine-tune their methodologies. Further screening tests using titania nanoparticles have now started.
