# Engineered Nanomaterial Synthesis, Characterization and Method Development Center for Nano-safety Research

> **NIH NIH U24** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2020 · $732,104

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Given the increasingly vast and varied array of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) being utilized in industry,
incorporated into consumer products, and employed in medical imaging and therapeutic applications,
understanding the relationships between their physicochemical properties and biointeractions is critical and
will help in reducing the still great risk uncertainty surrounding ENMs.
 In response to this RFA, we propose to establish the “Engineered Nanomaterial Synthesis,
Characterization and Method Development Coordination Center for Nano-safety Research”. Our
proposed Center builds upon the infrastructure and interdisciplinary experience of existing academic research
centers in the fields of ENM synthesis, characterization and nano-safety research. The infrastructure in these
collaborating centers, developed over the past 15 years, includes an inter-disciplinary research group of
faculty, researchers and students, as well as state-of-the-art platforms for high throughput synthesis of ENMs,
including metal and metal oxides, cutting edge 2D/3D ENMs such as CNTs and graphene, nanocellulose, and
advanced nanocomposites, coupled with innovative tools to assess the fate of ENMs in biological systems,
statistical and exposure assessment tools, and novel in vitro/in-vivo platforms for nanotoxicology.
 The research outlined in this proposal extends beyond timely and cost-effective synthesis and
characterization of reference ENMs and coordination services for the NHIR consortium community. We aim to
work across disciplines, share new ideas, develop industry-relevant reference ENMs, and work with the
consortium to develop multidisciplinary projects and standardized methods to advance our understanding of
nano-EHS issues. The work will be accomplished through a number of highly interconnected cores/aims and
research projects: 1) ENM synthesis Core: It will provide an extensive array of well-characterized, industry-
relevant ENMs that cover both conventional and emerging advanced 2D/3D ENMs; 2)ENM Characterization
Core: it will provide complete physicochemical characterization using state of the art instruments and analytical
methods; 3) Reference ENM repository Core: Management of the reference ENM repository will include
storage and distribution of ENMs to the consortium, assessment of property transformations and purity over
time and development of optimized storage strategies and QA/QC procedures; 4) Method Development
Core: It will develop standardized methods for dispersion preparation and characterization for toxicology
studies, develop advanced dosimetry tools for fate and transport of ENMs in biological media, including corona
characterization methods, and develop chemical and radio-tracing techniques to be used by nanotoxicology
community to track biodistribution and translocation of ENMs in cellular and animal models; 5) Administration
and Research Coordination Core: This core will provide oversight and coordination of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965924
- **Project number:** 5U24ES026946-05
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip Demokritou
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $732,104
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965924

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965924, Engineered Nanomaterial Synthesis, Characterization and Method Development Center for Nano-safety Research (5U24ES026946-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965924. Licensed CC0.

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