Nanotechnology products (NPs) include nanoparticles, nanotubes, and other nanoscale devices and products. In tandem with the research and development of NPs, possible health and environmental issues are in need of research. NPs can be modeled as ultra-fine particles and such particles have known adverse lung, and other organ, effects. In addition, many NPs are composed of potential toxins, such as carbon, titanium, cadmium, and gallium, which have known adverse health effects in multiple organs. A hallmark of small-scale products is the large surface area per unit mass, which can enhance surface reactivity and enable adsorption and subsequent delivery of other toxins. Since NPs are often explicitly designed to cross cell membranes, organ exposure to toxins may be enhanced.

Currently, there are only limited direct toxicological studies of NPs. These studies have mainly focused on the fine particulate nature of the NPs. Much of the concern identified above is based on extrapolation from quartz, asbestos, and particulate air pollution toxicology studies and from general medical pharmacology considerations. The lack of direct toxicological knowledge has prompted the call for the development of a new field: nanotoxicology.

The Institute for NanoBioTechnology at Johns Hopkins is in a unique position to undertake a large research and training effort in the environmental, occupational, and public health effects of nanotechnologies because of ongoing activities in all divisions of the university. We are developing an active program that marshals this expertise to answer the need for nano-toxicological data and the initiation of relevant and balanced policy. We envision INBT becoming the leading center for the study of environmental, occupational, and public health effects of nanotechnology products.

Projects are focused into four areas of research: 

• Environmental transport, transformations, and fate

How and from what sources are engineered nanomaterials introduced into the environment? Once introduced, where do such materials distribute (media and geography) and what physico-chemical transformations take place? How does the physical or chemical alteration of nanomaterials affect their transport, their chemical reactivity, and their toxicity? What are the fundamental structure-property relationships that govern transformations and ultimate fate in different ecosystems? 

• Exposure assessment

What basic physico-chemical characteristics, e.g., surface area, redox potential, adsorptive capacity, are most relevant to ecologic and human toxicity? How should we best characterize “exposure,” and what analytic methods need to be developed and validated to do so?  

• Toxicologic assessment

How should we best characterize “dose” and “biologically effective dose”? What adverse health outcomes should we measure at the sub-cellular, cellular, organ system, and organism levels? Can we develop practical toxicologic screening methods? What underlying biologic mechanisms drive nanomaterial-induced toxicity? Does synergism play a role?

• Epidemiologic investigations

What are the relevant patterns and pathways of human exposure to engineered nanomaterials? What are the most relevant adverse environmental and human health consequences? What prospective cohorts of potentially-exposed persons should be identified prior to exposure and monitored over time following exposure?