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Model nanoparticles for ecotoxicity studies

Project background

There is an urgent need to understand the ecological risks posed by nanomaterials and to develop standard ecotoxicity tests.

To do this we must:

  • improve our understanding of the physiochemical properties of nanomaterials and their toxic effects
  • understand exposure to nanomaterial – in the aquatic environment and within species at risk

Existing nanoparticle detection methods are limited in scope, expensive and/or complex. Detecting biological exposure will be especially problematic until new methods or sensors are developed.

Aim

To generate a set of well-characterised nanoparticles that show the range of properties that appear to influence ecotoxicity.

Objectives
  1. Create nanoparticles for use as model reference material
  2. Assess unambiguous relationships between nanoparticle bio-uptake and particle characteristics.
  3. Assess unambiguous relationships between nanoparticle exposure and measures of organism stress.

Methodology

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Primary investigator
Project partners
Post-doctoral research assistant
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