New Approach Methodologies for the Toxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the increasing amount of data available about the toxicity of nanomaterials (NMs), there is still a need to understand the hazards they cause to humans and the environment, especially in relation to real-world exposure scenarios. The definition of standardized approaches to test the toxicity of NMs is another identified need, especially in the view of the next generation risk assessment (NGRA) and the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) framework. In this context, new approach methodologies (NAMs) represent a powerful and promising tool to reduce animal testing and facilitate the risk assessment of the large number of existing nanoforms.

The aim of this Special Issue is to encourage scientists to publish their theoretical and experimental research on the toxicity assessment of NMs using NAMs as an alternative to mammalian in vivo models. The specific topics covered may include the following:

• New approach methodologies (NAMs), including in silico, in chemico, and in vitro models for the human and environmental risk assessment of nanoparticles;
• The role of nanoparticles (including environmental ultrafine particles, engineered NMs, and bio-based and advanced NMs) in biological process including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity;
• The impacts and adverse effects of nanoparticles on lung in vitro models, and other target organs, including innovative 3D in vitro models and in silico approaches;
• The toxicity/safety of NMs and nano-enabled functional products (antibacterial, antiviral, and bio-nanomaterials) by using cell culture models, advanced complex in vitro models, and non-mammalian model organisms.

Original research papers should fulfill the quality criteria for human toxicity and ecotoxicological studies that need to be included in risk assessment, respecting the minimum requirements for the characterization and data reporting of NMs (e.g., as indicated by the GUIDEnano approach).

With this collection, we aim at supporting the progress of the knowledge within the field of nanotoxicology and the efforts towards the harmonization and standardization of NAMs applied to the toxicity assessment of NMs. 

Dr. Rossella Bengalli
Dr. Eleonora Longhin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• nanoparticles
• nanomaterials
• in vitro toxicity
• new approach methodologies (NAMs)
• in vitro models
• alternative to in vivo models
• adverse outcome pathways
• in silico models
• safe and sustainable by design