Nanogap’s approach to nanomaterials responsible management: from synthesis to application By Daniel Fernández

1. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011
NANOGAP’s APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT: FROM SYNTHESIS
TO APPLICATION

2. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 1. Introduction
– Created as a spin-out from the NanoMag Research Group,
University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain in 2006.
– We develop, manufacture and sell novel nanomaterials
– Industries and applications include coatings & inks, plastics &
composites, textiles, electronics and biomedical
– Properties include therapeutic, antimicrobial, conductive,
magnetic, fluorescent and catalytic

3. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• Moved to new fully equipped
facility in 2008 with investment in
a versatile production plant with
capacity around 1 mt/year
• US subsidiary created in 2010
• Now 11 people, with Technical,
Operations and Commercial staff
all having strong nanotechnology
backgrounds
• Strong Advisory Board including
Scientific, Legal and IPR advisors

4. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
2. Technology & Products Atomic Quantum Clusters
<1nm
Silver
Wet Gold
AQC
Chemistry
Reaction Mechanism Nanoparticles
Particle Size 5 – 50 nm
Chemical / Physical Properties
Silver
Control Iron Oxide
Morphology NP
Surface Functionalisation
Carrier Fluid Nanofibres
Dispersion Concentration 20µm x 100nm
Silver
Chemistry
NF

5. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
2. Technology & Products
• NANOGAP processes allow for the control of a
wide range of characteristics and properties:
– Particle size
– Particle morphology
– Surface functionalisation
– Choice of carrier fluid
– Dispersion Concentration
• This allows us to work closely with customers
and develop and customise products for
specific applications
• NANOGAP products are optimally
dispersed allowing for ease of use
through simple stir-in blending and
mixing

6. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 3. Regulatory ocean
– More than 30 projects are being developed at ISO TC 229 -
Nanotechnologies Standards and projects under the direct
responsibility of TC 229 Secretariat
– Basic science still has to be developed for supporting critical issues
such as:
• Safe handling of nanomaterials
• Toxicity to humans and environment
• Safe disposal
• Accurate measurements
• …
– What to do?

7. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 4. NANOGAP’s Policy for Safety and Environmental
issues
Transparency Objective: to
Responsibility Proactivity achieve solid
To share
To watch over our To generate new rock basis for
knowledge and Nanoindustry
products knowledge
practices development

8. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 4. Responsibility to watch over our
products/processes
– No regulations: common sense rules!
– Wet chemistry processes good for occupational hygiene
(no dry powder)
– Strict quality control: for better characterization of our
product’s behaviour
– Permanent surveillance on regulatory landscape

9. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 4. Proactivity to generate knowledge
– NANOGAP has established collaboration agreements
with research groups in order to study our product´s
toxicity:
• Institute of Occupational Health of Denmark
• Advancell
• USC Genomic Medicine group: studies on the citological toxicity aspects
• UDC Toxicology group: studies on the genotoxicity and work environment
aspects
– Collaboration with DSM (Novionano): they review our
MSDS and give us updates on voluntary information we
should include
– Participation in FP7 Nanotechnology proposals

10. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
• 4. Transparency to share knowledge and
practices
– We actively participate on technological, industrial and
regulatory platforms:
• AENOR working group on Nanotechnology (AEN/CTN GET15 –
NANOTECNOLOGÍAS)
• Phantoms Foundation
• Conferences, workshops…
– In few time, NANOGAP will make available to any
interested stakeholder a summary of the internal work and
external knowledge on toxicity and regulation on each of
our products.

11. FOUM BIOTECH-EXPOQUIMIA 2011. NANOGAP SUBNM POWDER, S.A. APPROACH TO NANOMATERIALS
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT FROM SYNTHESIS TO APPLICATION
Thanks for your attention!
www.nanogap.es