Nanotechnology (the manipulation and/or use of materials at the nanometre (nm) scale) is widely regarded as the next frontier in science that could bring major breakthroughs to improve our quality of life.

The nanotechnology market is already large: in 2020, gross global turnover was more than $US50 billion and is expected to grow to $US170 billion by 2025.

However, it’s not known how exposure to engineered nanomaterial (ENM) may harm humans or the environment. What’s more, the regulatory safety tests used for most chemicals are not appropriate for ENM. This has prevented innovation and growth in the nanotechnology industry worldwide.

Developing safety tests

The In Vitro Toxicology Group (IVTG) at Swansea University set out to develop safety tests that would sit within a regulatory framework for risk assessments, for use by the global nanotechnology industry.

Previous research from the IVTG team showed that standard chemical safety tests were not appropriate for use with ENMs. The team looked at how to tailor these tests and, later, successfully used a modified test with ENMs. From here, they developed nanosafety tests that better represent the complexities of the human body.

As a result of their research, the team secured further funding, including €12.7 million for PATROLS, an international project coordinated by Professor Shareen Doak that brings together academics, industrial scientists, government officials and risk assessors from Europe, Canada, the US, Japan and Korea. PATROLS aims to develop tools to predict potential hazards from exposure to ENMs, minimise the need for animal testing and categorise ENMs to support safety frameworks.

The IVTG team co-authored more than 70 publications that

  • addressed the limitations in knowledge in the field at the time
  • recommended how the field should move forward based on new data that showed how nanomaterials behave during safety tests
  • outlined which global regulatory test systems could be adapted for use with ENMs.

Global impact

The team’s research has been pivotal in the development of standardised safety tests for nanomaterials.

This work has had a global impact.  It has changed international regulations and been adopted by industry, regulatory authorities and standards bodies worldwide.

The international nanotechnology industry now has robust ENM safety testing methods, which has increased the confidence of regulators to approve ENM products following registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) submissions.

As a result, the public is benefitting from safer nanomaterial-enabled products, and the nanotechnology industry is seeing increased innovation and competitiveness.

Research team

Professor Shareen Doak, Professor Gareth Jenkins and Dr Martin Clift – Swansea University

Read the full REF impact case study