International Collaboration on Nanotube Safety (ICONS) NSF 15-022

提案：1530505 PI：该项目是美国的一个联合美欧提案的组成部分，同时提交给欧洲研究领域安全实施创新纳米科学和纳米技术（ERA-NET SIINN）与NSF协调。国际纳米管安全合作组织（ICONS）题为“一种用于机械评估功能化多壁碳纳米管的呼吸毒性的综合测试策略”的提案在美国的北卡罗来纳州州立大学（NCSU）与罗马尼亚，比利时，与德国合作，整合多壁碳纳米管（MWCNT）毒理学方面的跨国专业知识，纳米管安全国际合作组织（ICONS）该项目将是一个协调的努力，以了解多壁碳纳米管（MWCNT）的毒性和物理化学参数，导致毒性作用的机制基础。实验策略包括-原始和功能化的MWCNT的物理化学性质的详细表征，在几个体外试验中测试它们，在大鼠和小鼠中使用口咽抽吸的体内研究，用于识别相关和有意义的MWCNT候选物，以及在大鼠中进行的28天体内吸入研究，用于验证体内相关性、危害和剂量反应表征。单一且一致的MWCNT来源将与各种表面官能化一起使用。NCSU将与比利时合作伙伴协调并进行MWCNT样品的体外细胞试验，以确定培养的人肺细胞用于预测通过口咽抽吸（NCSU和比利时）或吸入暴露（德国）暴露于MWCNT的大鼠或小鼠体内结局的可靠性。媒体和组织（罗马尼亚）中的功能化多壁碳纳米管的详细表征将补充生物测定。国家统计股将通过一个可供公众访问的网站，协调传播国际统计理事会项目的调查结果。拟议项目的预期成果是通过传播跨学科研究成果，促进纳米技术的安全发展，产生广泛的影响，NCSU将通过新创建的ICONS网站（将与其他可访问的纳米技术网站链接），向公众协调研究结果。此外，数据将存储在JRC NANOhub数据库中，该数据库是欧盟委员会联合研究中心，健康与消费者保护研究所（IHCP）的一部分。此外，一个重要的预期成果是，ICONS将作为美国的一个模式，欧洲纳米材料跨学科测试将促进纳米技术的安全发展，并预防未来因职业或环境暴露于纳米材料而可能导致的肺部疾病。预计ICONS将增加学术界、工业界和政府之间的伙伴关系，从而促进纳米技术的经济和安全发展。

Proposal: 1530505 PI: Bonner, James C.This project is the U.S. component of a joint US-European proposal submitted concurrently to the European Research Area for Safe Implementation of Innovative Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ERA-NET SIINN) in coordination with NSF. The International Collaboration on Nanotube Safety (ICONS) proposal entitled - An integrated testing strategy for mechanistically assessing the respiratory toxicity of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes- creates a complementary and interdisciplinary collaboration between North Carolina State University (NCSU) in the U.S. with three European laboratories in Romania, Belgium, and Germany to integrate transnational expertise in the toxicology of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), which is likely to find increasing practical applications.The International Collaboration on Nanotube Safety (ICONS) project will be a coordinated effort to understand the mechanistic basis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) toxicity and the physico-chemical parameters that result in toxic effects. Experimental strategy includes - detailed characterization of physico-chemical properties of pristine and functionalized MWCNT, testing them in several in vitro assays, in vivo studies using oropharyngeal aspiration in rats and mice for identifying relevant and meaningful MWCNT candidates, and a 28-day in vivo inhalation study in rats for validation of in vivo relevance, hazard and dose-response characterization. A single and consistent source of MWCNT will be used with various surface functionalizations. NCSU will coordinate and perform in vitro cell testing of MWCNT samples with the Belgium partner to determine the reliability of cultured human lung cells for predicting in vivo outcomes in rats or mice exposed to MWCNT by oropharyngeal aspiration (NCSU and Belgium) or inhalation exposure (Germany). Detailed characterization of functionalized MWCNT in media and tissues (Romania) will complement the bioassays. NCSU will coordinate dissemination of the findings of the ICONS project via a publicly accessible website. The expected outcome of the proposed project is the broad impact through promoting the safe development of nanotechnology through dissemination of the interdisciplinary research findings and NCSU will coordinate findings to the public through a newly created ICONS website that will be linked to other accessible nanotechnology websites. In addition, data will be deposited in the JRC NANOhub database, part of the European Commission Joint Research Center, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP). Further, an important expected outcome is that ICONS will serve as a model for U.S.-European interdisciplinary testing of nanomaterials that will promote the safe development of nanotechnology and prevent potential future lung diseases caused by occupational or environmental exposure to nanomaterials. It is anticipated that the ICONS will increase partnerships between academia, industry, and government, thus enhancing economic and safe development of nanotechnology.