Nanomaterials Safer-by-Design: An Environmental Safety Perspective

Abstract

Designing safer nanomaterials and nanostructures has gained increasing attention in the field of nanoscience and technology in recent years. Based on the body of experimental evidence contributed by environmental health and safety studies, materials scientists now have a better grasp on the relationships between the nanomaterials' physicochemical characteristics and their hazard/safety profiles. Therefore, it is expected that an integration of design synthesis and safety assessment will foster nanomaterials safer-by-design by considering both applications and implications. From the environmental safety perspective, the most recent advances that demonstrate effective nanomaterials safer-by-design are highlighted.

Recent progress in safer-by-design nanomaterials is examined. Through careful dissection, various "safer-by-design" strategies that have been successfully implemented to make safer metal oxide, carbon-based, silica, and rare earth oxide nanomaterials are highlighted. The gap between nanomaterial research and safety-assessment communities is also presented and an outlook for future research directions provided.

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