Book presents a broad and in-depth look at nanotoxicology

Oswaldo Alves (pictured), of the Chemistry Institute at Universidade Estadual de Campinas, is one of the authors of the book written by 54 researchers.

By José Tadeu Arantes

Agência FAPESP – With over 400 pages distributed across 17 chapters, each offering in-depth coverage of one aspect of nanotoxicology, the book Nanotoxicology – Materials, Methodologies, and Assessments covers the most advanced topics in the field.

As the fruit of discussions that spanned a decade, the book is the collective work of 54 researchers under the coordination of Nelso Durán and Oswaldo Alves of the Chemistry Institute at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) and Silvia Guterres of the Pharmacy School at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). The preface, summary and abstracts of the chapters can be accessed at http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-8993-1.

Oswaldo Alves discussed the book in an interview with Agência FAPESP. Excerpts of the interview are below:

Agência FAPESP – When did the idea for the book emerge?
Oswaldo Alves – The idea for this book emerged many years ago. In 2002, we began discussions that dealt with the eventual risks of nanotechnology for the environment and humankind. These discussions were difficult because both in academia and in the government there was a perception that the public was afraid of nanotechnology. Despite this, we ratified in several instances the need to approach the safety aspects of nanotechnology. Our thought was validated after we participated in conferences such as Nanosafe in Grenoble, France, and, even more so, as a Brazilian delegation to the Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth, sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris in July 2009. Additionally, the Solid State Chemistry Laboratory (LQUES) and the Biological Chemistry Laboratory (LQB), both from Unicamp’s Institute of Chemistry, had been studying various aspects of the interaction of nanostructures with biosystems in the context of nanotoxicology in cooperation with more than 20 laboratories, the majority of which were connected to the biological sciences.

Agência FAPESP – How were the collaborations of so many researchers articulated?
Alves – In 2011, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) launched a call for tender that made possible the Brazilian Nanotoxicology Network (CigeNanotox), which was based on Unicamp’s Chemistry Institute and coordinated by Professor Nelson Durán and myself with participation from the Metrocamp School at Universidade de Sorocaba, da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), Unicamp, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) and UFRGS. One of the “products” proposed by the network, in addition to the development of protocols and methods, publications in specialized magazines, and participation in international congresses and patent deposits, among others, was the publication of a book that dealt with the emerging field of nanotoxicology. We made a proposal to the publisher Springer, which was quickly accepted. From that point, editors planned the entire editorial process, including the peer review, authorization for the use of images and figures, and final revision of the originals. One highlight of this process was the active participation of post-doctoral researchers and graduate students, many of whom participated as co-authors in several chapters with researchers and senior professors.

Agência FAPESP – Is this book a pioneering initiative in nanotechnology?
Alves – There are certainly other works that address the subject. However, given its breadth, the stage of the discussions on the subject and the way the subjects are treated, we consider our book to be a pioneering contribution that is very opportune. In addition to an up-to-date presentation of high-quality international literature, we added methodological developments, new results and reflections from different laboratories that comprise the CigeNanotox Network and collaborators.

Agência FAPESP – Today there is a major interest in the use of nanoparticles, such as pharmaceutical drug vectors, with very specific activities. At what stage is research in this area?
Alves – Without a doubt, this field sparks major expectations. To be used as pharmaceutical vectors, nanoparticles must be functionalized with different groups that endow them with new properties, such as solubility, reactivity, the capacity to transfer energy and the ability to recognize cells that “malfunction”: for example, cancer cells. Despite many advances in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, there are still very few systems that have passed all test phases to reach the market.There are many doubts about how these systems work, principally regarding the recognition and the interaction of nanoparticles with different proteins. Nonetheless, several candidate systems are currently under evaluation by European agencies and the United States FDA [Food and Drug Administration], especially those focused on the treatment of the most aggressive types of cancer.

Agência FAPESP – What are the most promising nanomaterials in this case?
Alves – In terms of materials, gold particles, mesoporous silica and magnetic nanoparticles are being studied, and with more concrete results, drug encapsulation techniques by lipid nanoparticles. As I said, there have been many studies investigating how these particles behave, but the primary aim is always to obtain systems that are capable of solely affecting the biological targets of interest; that is, systems that provide superior recognition and selectivity.

Agência FAPESP – And these vectors do not have important side effects?
Alves – It is expected, in the case of drugs, for example, that nanoparticle formulations could prevent important side effects by enabling the use of much smaller drug quantities that specifically act only on the target responsible for the disease. However, these aspects must be proven through many long, multidisciplinary studies because illnesses are typically the result of several factors acting synergistically or cooperatively. Another aspect that should be considered, which has been described in depth in the literature, is the phenomenon of biodistribution. Nanoparticles can penetrate an organism (for example, through the respiratory system) and, due to their size, morphology and functionality, can end up concentrating in the kidneys or pancreas. It is clear that many further studies are necessary.

Agência FAPESP – What are the primary risks involved in the study of nanomaterials?
Alves – They are essentially the same risks that the international and national organizations responsible for employee health have already cited for those working with chemical products. We would add risks specifically related to the size of the particles; when in powder form, the particles require installations with rigorous environmental control and manipulation at special benches equipped with exhaustion systems, in addition to standard personal protection equipment such as gloves and goggles. Some international organizations, such as Ineris in France, have tested several materials for the manufacture of gloves and individual filters for various applications in nanotechnology. It is worth highlighting that, concomitant with the growth in the number of products that utilize nanotechnologies, an insurance industry has developed with an eye on the handling of these materials in industrial environments.

Nanotoxicology: materials, methodologies, and assessments
Authors: Nelson Durán, Silvia S. Guterres and Oswaldo L. Alves
Publisher: Springer
Price: US$ 159
Pages: 411

More information: http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-8993-1.