Namur Nanosafety Centre

1. Toxicological Risk Assessment
An initiative of
24 October 2013 - UCL - Brussels (Woluwe)
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2. Namur Nanosafety Centre
University of Namur
Dr Christelle Saout
Senior scientist
Pr Stéphane Lucas
Director of NARILIS

3. Fields of expertise
Fields of expertise
• Nanomaterial (NM) physicochemical characterisation:
pristine forms, dispersions, complex matrices
• NM fate and biodistribution studies at cellular and organ levels
• Assessment of NM potential toxicity: in vitro & in vivo testing
following OECD guidelines
• Metrology, cross validation studies for regulatory purposes:
validated supplier of EC-JRC IRMM
• Animal whole-body exposure to standardized airborne
aerosols: local and systemic impacts, biopersistence
• Heamocompatibility of NMs
• Toxicity mechanistic studies
• Nanomaterial regulation: OECD WPMN, EC DG Consumers &
Health, GAARN- European Chemical Agency, BE Superior Health
council
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4. Industrial targets
Industrial applications fields
Potentially, all industrial sectors involved nanotechnologies
• NM manufacturers
• Paint & coating
• Construction
• Transport
• Cosmetic
• Food
• Biomedical and health
• Electronics
• Aerospace
•…
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5. Applied research projects in Nanotoxicology
Ongoing projects
QualityNano : A pan-European Infrastructure Project for quality in
nanomaterials safety testing.
Joint Research and Networking Activities and provision of Transnational Access.
(7 M€, 2011-14, INFRASTRUCTURE-2010-1-262163). http://www.qualitynano.eu
NANOVALID: Large scale integrated project: Development of reference methods
for hazard identification, risk assessment and LCA of engineered nanomaterials
(7 M€, 2011-14, NMP4-LA-2011-263147). http://www.nanovalid.eu
NANoREG: Large scale integrated project: Regulory testing of Nanotechnology
The approach of NANoREG will provide answers to Society, Industry and the
National Regulation and Legislation Authorities (48 M€, 2013-16, NMP4-LA2013, 310584). http://www.nanoreg.eu
Closed projects
Program of Excellence NANOTOXICO n°516252: Coordinator : Unamur–(Jan 2006
to Dec 2012) – Total Budget 10 M€ co-sponsored by DGO6-SPW & Unamur.
NANOPOLYMERES project: n°DG5/MR-RB/2007/nano1. Coordinator: ISP- Nov.
2007 to June 2008) – Total Budget : 32.000,00 €.
Silicalloy project: Convention n°6144 MECATECH Pole. Coordinator : De LEUZE
Brussels –
s.a. –Jan. 2009 to June 2013)–Total Budget 1.2 M€
Oct 24, 2013
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6. Special equipments
NM physicochemical characterisation
• 2 MeV Tandetron linear accelerator (Altaïs) for NM-core
chemical characterisation
• Field Emission Gun - Scanning Electron Microscope JSM7500F /Jeol (resolution 0.6 nm) with EDX detector for
morphology and global chemical composition
• CPS 24000 Disc Centrifuge for nanoparticle size analysis
• BET for porosity evaluation
• XRD for phase and crystallinity evaluation
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7. Special equipements
NM toxicity assessment
In vivo/ ex vivo testing
• Impact-R®, PFA-100®, light transmission aggregometry,
electron microscopy, KC-10®, cTGT for NM impact on blood
• Whole body inhalation exposure models for biodistribution
and biopersistence studies
In vitro testing
• Cell culture platforms – Tissue engineering - Young vs Elderly
• Confocal microscopy (Leica TCS SP5) for cellular uptake and
DNA damage studies
• Gene expression profiling and proteomic platforms for
toxicity screening
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8. Services provided to companies
Adapted to the demand
• Physicochemical characterisation: size distribution, shape,
surface properties (pristine form, complex matrices)
• NM release studies – Identification of potential exposure
• NM solubility
• NM transport /crossing through biological barriers
• Toxicity screening testings – safe by design strategy
• …
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9. Training proposals to companies
ITEMS
• Selection of best and most appropriate analytical technique for
NM investigation
• Training about in vivo and in vitro toxicity assessment
• On site NM worker exposure measurements
• Best NM manipulation practice
• Origin of NM generation as byproduct for vacuum based
technologies
• …
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10. Contacts
University of Namur
Namur Nanosafety Centre
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 Namur
http://www.narilis.be/technological-facilities/namur-nanosafety-center
Pr Stéphane Lucas
Director of Narilis– Characterisation studies
stephane.lucas@unamur.be
 +32 81 72 55 28 or (54 81)
Dr Christelle Saout
Senior scientist– in vitro studies
christelle.saout@unamur.be
 32 81 72 57 13
Dr Olivier Toussaint
Senior FNRS research associate – In vitro studies
olivier.toussaint@unamur.be
 +32 81 21 54 87
Pr Jean-Michel Dogné
Director of the Pharmacy Dpt.– In vivo and hemocompatibility studies
jean-michel.dogne@unamur.be
 +32 81 72 57 13
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