Safe by design (SbD) and nanotechnology: a much-discussed topic with a prudence?

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterial Safety
• Toxicology
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Safe-by-Design (SbD) is a proactive strategy to ensure market-ready nanomaterials are safe.
• Early integration of safety considerations into the nanomaterial innovation process is essential.
• Existing laboratory tests aim to screen nanomaterials for potential hazards.

Discussion:

• The predictive power of current screening tests for human health effects requires evaluation.
• Assessing risks from acute (peak) and chronic (low-dose, long-term) exposures is critical.
• Understanding nanomaterial accumulation in organs and tissues informs long-term risk assessment.

Key Insights:

• SbD necessitates robust safety assessment methodologies.
• Laboratory tests must accurately predict adverse health outcomes.
• Nanomaterial behavior under varying exposure scenarios (acute vs. chronic) needs thorough investigation.

Outlook:

• Further development of predictive toxicological assays for nanomaterials is needed.
• Refining SbD principles requires validated testing strategies for diverse exposure routes.
• Long-term safety assurance of nano-enabled products depends on comprehensive risk evaluation.