iCEINT - International Consortium for the Environmental Implication of Nanotechnology

Events

Nomad — 2009-09-22T13:52:01Z

Upcoming Events

Past Events

International Symposium on Mineralogy-Environment-Health

September 17th-18th 2009 Champs/Marne Marne-la-vallÃ©e, France.

ICEINT 2009

International Conference on the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology, September 9-10, 2009 at Howard University Washington-USA

LIONS Saclay

THILL — 2009-09-18T08:18:28Z

CEA Saclay Physico-Chemical characterization in aqueous media Dir : J Daillant Contact : Dr. Antoine Thill

The Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire sur l'Organisation Nanométrique et Supramoléculaire investigates the mechanisms determining the organization of soft matter at the nanometric scale and use this knowledge to fabricate new nanomaterials or systems with tailored properties. Our interest ranges from nanochemistry to confined fluids and interfaces. Our interdisciplinary approach is based on mixing macroscopic physico-chemical experiments (stability, zeta potential, adsorption) with precise structural characterizations by advanced techniques like atomic force microscopy, confocal microscopy, small angle X-ray, neutron and light scattering. At least three main axis of the lab are focused on nanoparticles. We study the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles at the ms timescale using stopped-flow. We use spray-drying to assemble such nanoparticles in mesoporous materials. We studyto the synthesis and/or interaction of nanomaterial at liquid interfaces for example to stabilize emulsions known as Pickering emulsions. Based on this strong knowledge of the stability and behaviour of nanoparticles in complex media, we investigate since a few years, using model bacteria, how physical and chemical parameters influence the toxicity of nanoparticles, a problem of high societal impact.

In this new international consortium our activity will be focused on the physico-chemical interactions between the cells and the nanoparticles. One major project will be to develop micro or milli-fluidic tools to organize the contact between nanoparticles and the bacteria and characterize their interaction (adsorbed quantities, zeta potential, aggregation state) through online diagnostics (like UV and imaging).

Analytical Platforms

Nomad — 2009-09-09T08:30:13Z

Shared facilities through iCEINT partners represent a unique international platform. The combination of resources provides state of the art facilities including nano-synthesis, characterization, visualization, controlled field sites (mesocosms), microcosm facilities. iCEINT offers students and researchers unprecedented opportunities for research on the environmental implications of nanotechnology

These resources include numerous microscopi techniques (SEM, Cryo-SEM, TEM, Rx Imaging, AFM, confocal microscopes...), spectroscopic laboratory devices (PS, NMR, FTIR, EPR...) or synchrotron based (XAS, RIXS, micro-XAS, XES...) as well as the scattering techniques (light scattering, SAXS, XRD, PDF...).

Environmental nanotechnology

Nomad — 2009-09-09T07:20:20Z

Nanotechnology have emerged more than ten years ago in many different applications and scientific domains that share in common the study and the engineering of materials at the nanometric scale, i.e at the molecular and atomic level.

In nanotechnology, a nanoparticle is defined as a small object for which one of its dimension is below 100 nanometers and that exhibit size-related properties that differ significantly from those observed in bulk materials. Nanomaterials generally composed by nanoparticles which contrary to the fine particles stemming from processes of combustions or from natural origin, are made by respecting an order and a precise arrangement of atoms. This â€˜orderâ€™ is responsible for the new or significantly different properties. Some refers to a Nano effect that has the potential to create many materials or devices in a wide range of applications, such as medicine, electronics and energy production.

In the environmental and energy domain, the enhance reactivity of nanoparticles make then unique and promising candidates to sorb pollutant and to develop new generation of processes. Thanks to their capacity to resist to extreme temperatures as those reached in plasma of nuclear fusion reactors nanomaterials are certainly going to allow significant headways in the field of the fusion (ITER project). The modification of the electronic properties under the influence of light enable the development of photovoltaic systems but also for the treatment of effluents (drinking water, organic effluents, smells treatmentâ€¦).

Naturally the â€œnanoâ€ breaker brings also a lot of questioning concerning the risks that the proliferation of nanomaterials can pose. With properties that differ from bulk materials, the issue of how the â€˜newâ€™ properties of nanoparticles may lead to â€˜newâ€™ toxicity is central. Even though information on NPs effects on health and the environment are largely lacking, some properties of nanoparticles and nanomaterials fear possible risks. Their nanometric size may permit intracellular transfer. Their chemical composition may induce pathogen effects. Surface modifications may be engineered to design specific properties for given applications; But these surface modifications can strongly impact their toxic effects or harmlessness. More over biological effects as well as solubility can arise from form factors (fibers, tubes, plateletâ€¦). Aggregation is an other property that can strongly modify nanoparticle behavior.

Preliminary risk assessments of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are emerging, information on NPs bioavailability to aquatic biota and trophic transfer are largely lacking, and early studies on NPs aquatic toxicity, more observational than mechanistic, have yielded incomplete and contradictory results.

Formations & training courses

Nomad — 2009-09-08T15:30:34Z

iCeint consortium develops various graduate and doctoral programs for students interested in adressing the impact of nanotechnology. iCEINT provides lectures on fundamental disciplines and specific aspects necessary for any research on Environmental Nanotechnology. - Formations & training courses

Ecosystem impacts

Nomad — 2009-07-14T19:40:06Z

Work in Theme 3 elucidates the effects of manufactured, natural, and incidental nanomaterials in inherently complex natural â€œrealâ€ ecosystems. Specific bio-markers are developped to evaluate the early ecotoxicological and ecosystemic effects.

The impacts of nanomaterials in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems over a range of length-scales and complexity is studied using macrocosms, microcosms, bench-scale experiments. These ecosystems, that include aquatic flow-through and terrestrial microcosms developped by CEINT will be used as stadard device.

Cellular to organismal interactions

Nomad — 2009-07-14T19:37:44Z

Theme 2 research examines the biological impact of nanomaterials on living cells and organisms with respect to nanomaterials physico-chemical properties in conjunction with thÃ¨me 1.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic mechanisms are studied based on a high number of Tools from the molecular biology (proteomic, genomic...) and the development of specific tests. Toxic effects of uptake and bioaccumulation of nanoparticles, will be studied on organisms at several steps:

Evaluation of physiological modification on primary producer,
Evaluation of sorption and accumulation on primary consumer via food and water exposure: (Sorption on invertebrate teguments (daphniaâ€™s shell for example), Accumulation in digestive tract, Transfer in eggs).

Exposure : Transport and transformation

Nomad — 2009-07-14T19:35:34Z

The first theme will aim to better define the modes of exposure of the living organisms to the nanomaterials. A special care is taken to look at the long-term evolution of nanomaterials and nanoparticles in aqueous media.

Interactions with the numerous compounds from surface water (organic matter, mineral phases, colloidsâ€¦) are quantified. This issue is essential to define the stability of nanoparticles in natural systems or on the contrary, their immobilization due to aggregation.

Theme also better defines the effects of micro-organisms and living organisms on the bio-degradation or bio-transformation of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. This point will tackle obviously the question of the bio-accumulation.

The characterization of the interactions contaminant-ecosystem will enable to evidence the risk factors whether in terms of biodiversity or human health.

Historical background

Nomad — 2009-07-06T17:24:23Z

The GDRi iCEINT was made possible thanks to the long-term partnership between the group of Dr. J-Y Bottero from CEREGE (Aix en Pce-France) and the group of Pr. M.R. Wiesner from Duke University (Durham, USA) (previously RIce University, Houston, USA). On the american side the different laboratories belong to CEINT (Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology) created in 2008 with funding from the National Science Foundation and the US Environmental Protection Agency. On the French side the laboratories started to collaborate in 2002 funded by INSU (French National Institute for Earth Sciences and Astronomy) Under the ECCO program. All French partners are currently actively involved in many projects funded by the ANR (French Research National Agency) and the European Comission.

Our current knowledge of the fundamental interactions of nanomaterials with living systems and their potential effects on ecosystem function is in the formative stage at best. Some headway has been made in exploring the potential impacts of nanomaterials on human health. However, investigation of the roles of nano-scale objects as agents of evolutionary change, environmental perturbation, and their effect on ecosystem structure and function have lagged behind advances in fabricating, measuring and manipulating materials at the nano-scale. To remedy this situation, nanoscientists must be engaged with environmental scientists. But, leaders in environmental biology, biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, and ecology must also look for ways to apply nanoscience to their own fields while interacting with government and industrial scientists to create rigorous methods and protocols that have scientific legitimacy across disciplines. This will facilitate broad acceptance and dissemination of common procedures needed to create a body of research that is both comparable and reproducible. Our international consortium provides the mechanism for accomplishing these vital tasks through an extensive, tightly networked array of scientists and labs representing a wide range of disciplines that are connected to society at large with exceptional outreach programs. Our overarching objective is to elucidate the role of nano-scale phases in ecosystems, their interactions with organisms, and the mechanisms by which they exert their influence.

About iCEINT

Nomad — 2009-07-04T22:01:46Z

The main objective of the Groupement de Recherche international (GdRi) iCEINT (international Consortium for the Environmental Implication of Nanotechnology) is to responds to the challenge of relating a vast array of nanomaterial properties to their potential environmental exposure, biological effects, and ecological consequences. Rather than approach this daunting task on an exhaustive case-by-case basis, our vision is to elucidate the general principles that determine nanoparticle behavior and translate this knowledge into the language of risk assessment to provide guidance in addressing existing and future concerns surrounding the environmental implications of nanomaterials.

To accomplish the objectives, we will draw on a core of internationally recognized leadership (US and French) in five areas of expertise:

environmental toxicology and ecosystem biology ;
nanomaterial transport, transformation, and fate in the environment ;
biogeochemistry of nanomaterials ;
nanomaterial chemistry and fabrication ;
environmental risk assessment and modeling.