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Intelligent testing strategy and analytical techniques for the safety assessment of nanomaterials

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Abstract

Nanomaterials (NMs) are widely used in various areas because of their unique and useful physicochemical properties. However, they may pose toxicity risks to human health after exposure. Applicable and reliable approaches are needed for risk assessment of NMs. Herein, an intelligent analytical strategy for safety assessment of NMs is proposed that focuses on toxicity assessment using an in vitro cell model. The toxicity assessment by testing on the adverse outcome pathway in a cell culture system was defined by application of a tiered testing approach. To provide an overview of the applicable approach for risk assessment of NMs, we discuss the most commonly used techniques and analytical methods, including computational toxicology methods in dosimetry assessment, high-throughput screening for toxicity testing with high efficiency, and omics-based toxicology assessment methods. The final section focuses on the route map for an integrated approach to a testing and assessment strategy on how to extrapolate the in vitro NM toxicity testing data to in vivo risk assessment of NMs. The intelligent analytical strategy, having evolved step-by-step, could contribute to better applications for safety evaluation and risk assessment of NMs in reality.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2016YFA0201600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11621505, 91543206, 91643102, 21777036, 21477029), the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (11425520), the Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Research Program for Frontier Sciences (QYZDJ-SSW-SLH022), the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences (no. NSKF201613), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA09040400) for financial support.

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  1. CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ambient Particles Health Effects and Prevention Techniques, National Center for Nanoscience & Technology of China, No. 11, Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China

    Rui Chen, Jiyan Qiao, Ru Bai, Yuliang Zhao & Chunying Chen

  2. College of Materials Sciences and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China

    Rui Chen, Jiyan Qiao, Yuliang Zhao & Chunying Chen

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  1. Rui Chen
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  2. Jiyan Qiao
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  3. Ru Bai
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  4. Yuliang Zhao
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Correspondence to Yuliang Zhao or Chunying Chen.

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Published in the topical collection Analytical Developments in Advancing Safety in Nanotechnology with guest editors Lisa Holland and Wenwan Zhong.

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Chen, R., Qiao, J., Bai, R. et al. Intelligent testing strategy and analytical techniques for the safety assessment of nanomaterials. Anal Bioanal Chem 410, 6051–6066 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-0940-y

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